Kiltwalk fund will help save kids’ lives

Edinburgh’s Sick Kids Friends Foundation have been handed £50,000 following the 2013 event.

You walked the walk for them. And now Edinburgh’s Sick Kids Friends Foundation wants to say a massive thank you to the 1,400 Kiltwalkers who went that extra mile in the capital last year.

The charity, core beneficiary of the Edinburgh Kiltwalk, recently received a cheque for £50,000 a fifth of the proceeds from the 2013 event. And the welcome cash boost will help save the lives of thousands of children in the years to come.

Funding from the Kiltwalk will allow SKFF to buy a new state-of-the-art Gamma camera, used to detect a range of life-threatening conditions such as cancer and epilepsy.

It’s replacing the current 13-year-old machine which has been used for more than 6,000 procedures and means much greater accuracy in diagnostic tests on patients.

At a cost of £550,000, it’s been a long drive for SKFF to collect enough cash for the camera. And the Kiltwalk cheque has pushed them towards that total.

Head of Community Fundraising and Events at Sick Kids, Rachel McKenzie, said: “Thank you!

“The 2013 Kiltwalk grant has taken us one step closer to completing our campaign to purchase Scotland’s first gamma/CT scanner for the Royal Hospital for Sick Children.

“We’re so grateful to all the courageous Kiltwalkers who took part in the 2013 Edinburgh Kiltwalk.”

SKFF also received £16,000 in Kiltwalk grants from the nine teams who nominated it as their chosen cause. One team was those walking for Emma Bowman who was diagnosed with T-Cell Lymphoma at the age of three.

Her parents Jane and Richard rounded up a team of 44 to complete 26 miles in the 2013 Edinburgh Kiltwalk and raise £10,000 to be split between the Kiltwalk charities.

As they were a team, they’ve requested 50% of their proceeds go to SKFF. Another, Team Aine, raised an impressive £12,500 last year, donating 50% of their funds to The Kiltwalk and the other half to Sick Kids.

Aine McDermott spent eight months at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children, after falling ill with congenital central hypoventilation.

The five-year-old, from Penicuik, is now back home, but her mum Leah Forbes was so impressed with the care that her daughter received, she decided to give something back.

This year, she’s signed up for all five Kiltwalks and is once again recruiting members for Team Aine.

“Sick Kids is a priceless charity which really does mean the world to the young patients and their families,” Leah said. “In fact, for some, it’s a lifeline.”

SKFF is the local partner for the Edinburgh Kiltwalk again this year and with only 10 weeks to go until the Kiltwalk returns to Auld Reekie, it’s time to book your place.

Starting at Murrayfield Stadium, walkers will be seen off on their amazing feet (excuse the pun!) by rugby legend Chris Paterson.

Kiltwalk CEO Carey McEvoy said: “Edinburgh walkers were fantastic last year and we hope to see many more in 2014, as well as lots of teams.”

The Kiltwalk has spaces for 3,000 people at its Edinburgh event on May 11 and hopes to raise £500,000. So why not join Oor Wullie and Oor Team and register at thekiltwalk.co.uk. Teams of five or more can nominate a Scottish children’s charity of their choice to receive 50% of their funds. Other Kiltwalks in 2014 include Glasgow on April 27, Aberdeen on June 1, Speyside on September 14 and Dundee on October 5.