Staff at Fort Kinnaird are building up their supplies of tartan and plasters ahead of the Kilt Walk next month, where they will be walking in support of Thistle Foundation. The team at Fort Kinnaird, which is Edinburgh’s leading retail and leisure destination by footfall, will join thousands of individuals and organisations across the city in walking the 5, 15.5 or 24-mile journey for The Kilt Walk in Edinburgh on 16 September.
The Fort Kinnaird team – who work in management, customer service, cleaning, and security – have spent much of their summer gearing up for the event. The team is hoping to raise £2000 and has already raised £600 to date.
Fort Kinnaird Centre Director Liam Smith said: “The team at Fort Kinnaird is both excited and nervous about our upcoming participation in the Kilt Walk, but supporting Thistle Foundation makes it all worthwhile.
“I’ve had to pick up my training after some teasing from cleaning and security team members, as for them the 15.5-mile route is all in a day’s work!
“Thistle Foundation is a very worthy cause, and we are delighted to be continuing our efforts to raise money and awareness for the organisation.”
The fundraising effort is part of Fort Kinnaird’s ongoing support for Thistle and follows a donation from the British Land Community Fund earlier this year. Fort Kinnaird supported the launch of the #stopthewait campaign to reduce the waiting list of people who need Thistle’s support because they are struggling with the devastating diagnosis of a long-term condition.
Fort Kinnaird has also hosted various fundraising activities for Thistle Foundation over the past several months.
Gail Begg, Thistle’s Community Fundraiser, said: “It’s really great to have the support of such an enthusiastic team from Fort Kinnaird.
“For the Kilt Walk, our aim is to get 100 people walking for Thistle and we’re so grateful that Fort Kinnaird employees and people working for the on-site retailers have pledged to help us raise funds in this way.”
All four Portobello/Craigmillar Ward Councillors, Kate Campbell, Mary Campbell, Maureen Child and Callum Laidlaw, will join the Fort Kinnaird team on the Big Stroll to support Thistle.
On a recent visit to Fort Kinnaird, Member of the Scottish Parliament for Edinburgh Eastern Ash Denham MSP offered words of encouragement to the team: “I’d like to wish the team at Fort Kinnaird all the very best for their upcoming efforts in support of Thistle at this year’s Kilt Walk.
“With both Fort Kinnaird and Thistle located within Edinburgh Eastern, I’m delighted to see a local business supporting a local charity. I would encourage other organisations across the city to follow in Fort Kinnaird’s footsteps, so to speak!”
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