Scotland’s capital was a sea of tartan today as 6,000 people took to the streets for Edinburgh’s biggest ever Royal Bank of Scotland Kiltwalk.
Scots rugby legend Doddie Weir and philanthropist Sir Tom Hunter gave rallying cries to the brave walkers as they set-off from Holyrood Park on their 24-mile journey out to Musselburgh and onto the finish line at BT Murrayfield.
More than 500 charities, mainly from Edinburgh, the Lothians and Fife, will benefit from the £1.2 million raised plus a 40% bonus of £500,000 from The Hunter Foundation. The £1.7 million fundraising boost comes from a colourful army of Kiltwalkers who tackled a variety of lengths; 24 miles, 15 miles or five miles in glorious sunshine.
Today’s event, which finished with a party led by the Red Hot Chilli Pipers at the home of Scottish Rugby, BT Murrayfield, was the last of this year’s four Royal Bank of Scotland Kiltwalks with Arnold Clark.
2,200 walkers gathered at Holyrood Park at 9.30am for the marathon Mighty Stride. 2,000 heroes set-off at 10.30am from Fisherrow Links in Musselburgh for the 15-mile Big Stroll. Another 1,800 walkers set off at 12.30pm from Gypsy Brae for the five-mile Wee Wander.
Leading out the Wee Wander were the parents of inspirational Joanna Lamb, who led and walked the five miles at Kiltwalk last year, despite having a rare bone cancer.
Angela and Alan Lamb, along with sister Nicola, walked in memory of Joanna, who helped raise a six figure sum for charity “It’s Good 2 Give”. Angela works with Royal Bank of Scotland whose Group CEO Ross McEwan travelled to the capital to walk with Joanna’s family and friends to pay tribute to an exceptional Edinburgh teenager who passed away days after celebrating her 18th birthday.
Sir Tom Hunter said:
We can’t do the Edinburgh Kiltwalk without thinking of Joanna. In my position I get to meet some incredibly inspirational people but Joanna was simply one of the best. Her determination and inspiration is a lesson to us all, and we were walking in her memory today.
Kiltwalk will return in 2020 in Glasgow, Aberdeen, Dundee and Edinburgh with the first event in Glasgow on Sunday April 26.