It has become one of the country's favourite mass participation events
A record breaking 13,000 walkers took on the first Kiltwalk of 2019, raising more than £3.5million for charities in the process.
On Saturday (27 April), more than 6,500 kind-hearted Kiltwalkers gathered at Glasgow Green to kick-off the 23-mile Mighty Stride. Later, 3,700 began a 15-mile Big Stroll and 2,800 completed the six-mile Wee Wander. All the walkers finished at the Kiltwalk village in Balloch.
Sir Tom Hunter and The Hunter Foundation added an additional 40% to all funds raised by each and every walker. This means that for every £1 raised, £1.40 goes to the charity of the walker’s choice. Glasgow walkers raised £2.5 million and with the added 40%, the total was raised to a huge £3.5 million.
He said: “Looking over Glasgow Green which was a sea of tartan this morning, I felt so proud to be part of Scotland’s fastest growing charity event.
“Some 13,000 people walking for the charity and causes that means the most to them is a very special site and I say ‘well done’ to every one of the walkers who took on 23 miles, 15 miles or 6 miles. Thank you for your Kiltwalk kindness to the 740 charities who will benefit from your efforts today.
“And if you missed today, you can sign-up for a Kiltwalk in Aberdeen, St Andrews to Dundee and Edinburgh in the coming weeks and months.”
It was a star-studded event with Judy Murray, Jackie Bird, actor Tom Urie, STV’s weatherman Sean Batty and showbiz reporter Laura Boyd all donning their tartan and taking part in the walks. Whilst Judy took to the streets of Glasgow, her son and tennis superstar Andy opened the London Marathon.
Leading out the Mighty Stride was Nicola Rankin and her six-year-old son, Michael, who lives with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a rare genetic disorder which causes muscle degeneration and weakness. They took on the walk with 15 friends and family, raising awareness and money for DMD UK.
Last year, Kiltwalk raised over £5million for charities across Scotland, including Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity, STV Children’s Appeal, Calum’s Cabin and Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Scotland (SBH Scotland).
Kiltwalk is the UK’s fastest growing fundraising event. The next walk takes place in Aberdeen on 02 June, then St. Andrews to Dundee on 18 August, finishing in Edinburgh on 15 September.
