Posters of 17-month old boy recovering from rare condition is to inspire walkers on 26 mile Edinburgh Kiltwalk

A 17-month old boy will provide the inspiration for entrants to this year’s Edinburgh Kiltwalk.

Organisers will pitch posters of Sam Newton-Stott (pictured) who underwent surgery aged nine months for Pierre Robin Sequence (PRS) and cleft palate, along the 26 mile route to inspire the thousands of walkers taking part.

His mum Anne Louise, 31, from Livingston, took part in last year’s Edinburgh Kiltwalk to raise funds for the Sick Kids Friends Foundation.

This year she is taking part as a platinum walker alongside good friend Kathryn Taylor, 28, which means they will walk all six 26 mile full walk events across Scotland this summer.

She said: “Sam’s condition came as a complete shock to the whole family and turned our lives upside down.

“Milk would come out of his nose when he tried to feed and the doctors had to insert tubes into his nose to help him get the nutrition he needed.

“We spent a lot of time at Sick Kids Hospital in Edinburgh in the beginning, but he had such tremendous treatment and is now such a happy, smiling little boy that we simply felt like we wanted to give something back.

“I enjoyed last year’s Edinburgh Kiltwalk so much I was determined to take on a bigger challenge this year.

“The Glasgow Kiltwalk was amazing fun and worth every step despite the sore feet and now we can’t wait for 3 May.

“I know after last year it will be a fabulous day and seeing Sam’s picture on route will keep us going.”

The Edinburgh Kiltwalk full and half walks - 26 and 13 mile courses - start and finish at the BT Murrayfield Stadium, taking in a route past Holyrood Park, Portobello Promenade and Leith.

The Wee Walk (six miles) will start at Gypsy Brae Recreational Ground and finishes at the BT Murrayfield Stadium.

More than 5,200 walkers took part in the Glasgow Kiltwalk earlier this month.

Kiltwalk chairman Michael Ure said: “The Glasgow Kiltwalk might be our flagship event but we always look forward to our walk through the capital city.

“A perfect mix of natural beauty, fantastic architecture and history it is a wonderful route for our intrepid Walkers as they don their kilts and walking boots to raise vital funds for Scotland’s children.”

After Edinburgh there are four other Kiltwalk events across Scotland: Aberdeen 7 June, Perth 8 August, Speyside 30 August and Dundee on 20 September.