Being active and raising your heart rate improves your health, and taking on the Kiltwalk gives people the opportunity to get fit
British Heart Foundation (BHF) Scotland has called on Glaswegians and people in the west of Scotland to make this year’s Kiltwalk one of their new year’s resolutions.
The much-loved mass participation event - which saw more than 14,000 people take part across the four events last year, raising over £2.5 million for charities - is back for 2018 kicking off with Glasgow on 29 April, Aberdeen on 3 June, Dundee to St Andrews on 19 August and Edinburgh on 16 September.
Each walk has three distances to choose from to suit people of all ages and abilities.
Being active and raising your heart rate improves your health, and taking on the Kiltwalk gives people the opportunity to get fit.
The more Glaswegians that get involved in the first Kiltwalk of 2018, the more the city can work on combatting its status as the heart disease capital of Europe.
More than 7,200 people took to the streets of Glasgow last year, raising in excess of £1.3 million in the Glasgow event alone for Scotland’s charities.
But this year, Dr Martin McBride, pictured above, a researcher at the BHF’s Centre of Research Excellence at the University of Glasgow, thinks even more individuals should take on the challenge to improve their health and raise money for charities, including BHF Scotland.
He said: “Why not look out your tartan and trainers and join us at the Glasgow Kiltwalk on 29 April. Getting involved is a brilliant way to benefit your own heart health and to raise vital funds for the BHF’s pioneering cardiovascular research that’s happening here in Glasgow. Without the BHF’s funds – and your support – we simply wouldn’t be able to continue our work to find new diagnoses and treatments into cardiovascular disease.”
Paul Cooney, chief executive of the Kiltwalk said: “With the new year comes new year’s resolutions and what’s a better goal to set yourself than to complete one of the four Royal Bank of Scotland Kiltwalks taking place in Scotland this year?
“With three distances to choose from in the Glasgow walk including the 23-mile Mighty Stride, the 14-mile Big Stroll and the 6-mile Wee Wander there’s something for everyone. We’re asking the good people of Glasgow to answer Dr Martin McBride’s call and sign up for the Kiltwalk in April! Benefit your heart, benefit your health and benefit charities close to you by walking the Royal Bank of Scotland Kiltwalk and raising vital funds.”
The Kiltwalk has a unique fundraising formula thanks to Sir Tom Hunter and The Hunter Foundation, which has pledged to add 40% on top of the money raised by Kiltwalkers for their chosen charities. So if a walker raises £100, their charity will receive £140.
For more information about the Kiltwalk, or to register, visit here.
