Don’t miss our Macmillan coffee morning next Saturday 24th September 10-12 noon.
Mini harvest show! Prizes for best jam/chutney/lemon curd, best sunflower, best courgette/marrow, prettiest dahlia, most quirky vegetable, best child grown product
Five thousand Kiltwalkers gathered in Edinburgh today [Sunday 18 September] and fell silent across the capital before setting off to raise over £2 million for 500 hard pressed Scottish charities.
A minute’s silence was held as a mark of respect and thanks for the life of the late Monarch, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth. Pipers also played in moving scenes at the 21-mile Mighty Stride, the 13-mile Big Stroll, and the four-mile Wee Wander. Those still walking later in the day observed the national one minute’s silence at 8pm.
500 charities across Scotland will benefit from the first physical Kiltwalk to take place in the capital since 2019. Out of respect for those visiting the Queen’s official residence Holyrood Palace, The Mighty Stride moved away from Holyrood Park to a new Start at Bingham Medway.
The walkers’ fundraising is topped-up by 50% by The Hunter Foundation.
Sir Tom Hunter said “I am incredibly proud of the Kiltwalk community for the respect they have shown at the death of Her Majesty the Queen whilst at the same time raising funds for 500 charities who really need it.
“We thank each and every one of our Kiltwalk heroes for their amazing endeavours for the common good.”
Football legend Graeme Souness tackled the Mighty Strike alongside Commonwealth Gold winning boxers Sean Lazzerini and Reese Lynch. The trio walked and raised money for charity, DEBRA, just one of 500 different Scottish charities.
Businesses across Scotland came together to support the Kiltwalk with the Royal Bank of Scotland and Arnold Clark:
After traveling the world with Scotland’s most famous military band, a West Lothian musician is returning to Livingston to pay tribute to local heroes.
Warrant Officer John Govan, who lives in Bathgate, will perform with the Band of the Royal Regiment of Scotland at their “Celebrating our Heroes” concert to support Poppyscotland.
John, who plays the clarinet, flute, and saxophone, has been an Army musician for 22 years, performing all over Europe, and in the Middle East, Hong Kong, and America. The band has recently played at Edinburgh’s Royal Military Tattoo, following the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations at Holyrood Place.
Now they will be coming to Howden Park Centre on Friday 30th September, as part of the band’s tour around Scotland. All proceeds will go to help Poppyscotland deliver its life-changing support for members of the Armed Forces community across Scotland.
John said: “This is the first time the Band has played in Livingston, and I’m really looking forward to playing close to home. We’re excited to be supporting a great cause, as well as paying tribute to local heroes, from the Armed Forces to key workers during a pandemic.
“We’ve got a fantastic programme this year, ranging from traditional Scottish tunes to modern classics, while the Band Scots Ceilidh group is sure to get feet tapping! We’ve been especially pleased to work with Scottish folk musician and composer Alan Brydon, who has written a new song, Land of Heroes, for the finale.
“These concerts are always very enjoyable events, and it’s great to get out and meet local audiences.”
Gordon Michie, Poppyscotland’s Head of Fundraising, said: “We’re delighted to welcome back the Band of the Royal Regiment of Scotland and are very grateful for their continuing support. This is a fantastic chance to hear one of Scotland’s best-known bands here in Livingston.
“These concerts are always a great night out, with an uplifting and eclectic programme showcasing the band’s versatility. All funds raised will support our life-changing work with the Armed Forces community, providing practical help and support whenever they need us.”
The Band of the Royal Regiment of Scotland, based at Dreghorn Barracks, Edinburgh, is one of the 22 Regular Army bands, and is made up of musicians who are also serving soldiers.
Tickets cost £15 (£12 concessions) and are available via:
www.poppyscotland.org.uk/get-involved/things-to-do/2022-band-tour.
TV and radio presenter, Jennifer Reoch, will be joining hundreds of fellow fundraising cyclists to take on Social Bite’s Break the Cycle challenge on Sunday, 4th September.
The former Miss Scotland star will be pedalling the 60-mile route from Scotstoun Stadium through to BT Murrayfield in Edinburgh with team captains Sir Chris Hoy and Glasgow Warriors’ Managing Director, Al Kellock.
With a variety of distances on offer this year, including new 20 or three-mile options, Break the Cycle will see cyclists of all abilities choose their route to raise vital funds to help people experiencing homelessness.
To find out more, sign-up please visit: breakthecycle.co.uk or to donate to support Jennifer visit: https://breakthecycle.enthuse.com/pf/jennifer-reoch
This September, the UK’s first childhood bereavement charity, Winston’s Wish marks 30 years of supporting children and young people by launching a dance fundraiser #30daysofdisco.
To mark this milestone occasion, the charity are inviting you to join in with 30 days of disco. An opportunity to listen to your favourite music and move your body to remember a loved one or just to have some fun all whilst raising money for charity.
Get involved independently or unite with your friends, colleagues or school class and become the hottest new dance group in town. Whether it’s to recreate those shapes you’ll be seeing on Saturday night’s Strictly Come Dancing this September, keep those holiday party vibes going or warm up for the office Christmas party, it’s a fundraiser you’ll want to be part of.
Dance at home for 30 minutes a day, wear your best party gear for an office ‘Disco Day’ or host your very own disco dance lesson, this danceathon is all about encouraging ‘free-style’, however you wish to take part.
Those signing up will receive a free Disco Fundraising Pack with everything they need to get the party started including glowsticks and stickers for the big kids at heart. Plus take part in a leadership board filled with enthusiastic dancers just like yourself! Share your dance journey with #30daysofdisco.
By dancing for Winston’s Wish this September you can play your part in providing vital support for grieving children and young people across the UK.
To find out more about how your support can make a difference or for more ways to get involved visit winstonswish.org/disco
Tails and tongues are set to wag this August with the return of pawsome annual fundraising event, Wagathon™, initiated by leading fundraising platform, Give as you Live Donate.
Dog owners across the UK are being encouraged to put on their walking boots and join their four-legged friends in walking 9K any day they like throughout August and raise vital charity funds.
Participants can choose to raise money for a charity close to their heart, whether it’s a local dog rescue centre or a well-known national charity — they all need support!
When dog owners sign up, they will receive a special welcome pack, including a Wagathon™ tag for their dog’s collar — plus, they will be in with the chance of winning some top prizes from Yappy and Scruffs.
It’s super-simple to get involved in the Wagathon™ challenge. All people need to do is:
1) Pick a charity to support
2) Create a Wagathon™ fundraising page
3) Share the page with friends, family and colleagues
4) Complete 9K with your K9s
Participants are encouraged to tag @thewagathonpack on Instagram and share their fundraising journey to be in the chance of winning a pawsome prize bundle!
For further information, and to kickstart your challenge, visit:
donate.giveasyoulive.com/pages/wagathon
Charlotte’s story
In memory of her beloved dog, Freddie, who passed away in June 2022, Charlotte Jones from Lapworth, Warwickshire, will be walking and running 9km every day during the month of August. She’ll be walking 279km in total to raise money for Fetcher Dog Charity.
Fetcher Dog was founded because thousands of dogs are born on the streets of Bosnia every year, condemned to starvation, disease and brutal, inhumane deaths.
Fetcher Dog aims to rescue as many of these dogs as possible and find them forever homes.
So far, Charlotte has reached 50% of her fundraising target.
To donate, visit: donate.giveasyoulive.com/fundraising/freddies-walk
Bobby’s story
Lynn Carr, from Seaham, County Durham, owns beautiful spaniels, Willow and Bobby. This August, the trio will be walking 9K in the Lake District for a charity close to all their hearts, Spaniel Aid.
Back in 2017, when Bobby was only 8 months old, he was given to Spaniel Aid by owners who couldn’t look after him. He spent time in foster carer where he was taught simple things like walking on a lead. After seeing his picture on the charity’s Facebook page, Lynn applied to meet him.
Lynn says: “We visited Bobby with Willow to see if they got on and, a week later, Bobby came to join our family. Without this charity, we would never have come across our boy. For that, we are entirely grateful.”
Unfortunately, Bobby was one of dozens of spaniels up for adoption or needing foster carers. Spaniel Aid is funded entirely by donations and the generosity of the public and people who adopt dogs from them.
To find out more, and to donate, visit:
donate.giveasyoulive.com/fundraising/spaniels-by-the-sea
Follow the trio on their Instagram page, @spanielsbythesea, here: www.instagram.com/spanielsbythesea/
Harris and Bracken’s story
Fiona Reid, from Musselburgh, Scotland, and her gorgeous Miniature Wirehaired Dachshunds, Harris and Bracken, are on a mission to walk 9K and raise as much money as possible to support a fellow Dachshund called Daphne.
Daphne was recently rescued by DMT Dachshund Rescue and Support Group, a charity that rescues Dachshunds from the meat trade in China and Korea with the clear mission that no Dachshund gets left behind.
Daphne has a broken leg, and someone sadly cut off her tail, leaving her with an infected stump. The charity wasn’t sure whether her leg could be saved at first; but, after examination, Daphne’s leg can be healed at a heavy cost of £3,700.
To support the charity and Daphne with this bill, Fiona, Harris and Bracken will be walking a 9k coastal walk this August in East Lothian.
To offer them suppawt, and to donate, visit:
donate.giveasyoulive.com/fundraising/fundraising-for-dmt-dachshund-rescue-and-support-group
Follow the trio on their Instagram page, @theworldaccordingtoharris, here:
www.instagram.com/theworldaccordingtoharris/
Buddy’s tail
Daniel Hoole, from Chesterfield, is walking with his spaniel, Buddy, for Phoenix Heroes — a charity that supports veterans.
As a veteran himself, Daniel used Phoenix Heroes when he was suffering from PTSD and, through their support, he was able to get his life back on track by socialising with others, fishing and reflecting on the past.
Daniel says: “The charity is so special to me; they have helped me more than I could put into words. Completing Wagathon with Buddy is great as we are both doing what we love and helping others with similar situations to myself. I recommend this challenge to any dog owners as it’s a fantastic challenge to enjoy with your best friend.”
Instead of completing the 9km in August, Daniel and Buddy will be doing Wagathon around Remembrance Day in Snowdon.
You don’t have to walk 500 miles to raise funds for Mary’s Meals this summer
The Proclaimers famously sang about walking 500 miles – and now the musical brothers are asking people in Edinburgh to take on their own walking challenge to help Mary’s Meals feed hungry children.
The Scottish duo is calling for residents to take part in the charity’s Move for Meals campaign, which encourages people to raise sponsorship while getting active.
Mary’s Meals serves nutritious school meals in some of the world’s poorest countries. The promise of a good meal attracts hungry children to the classroom, giving them the energy to learn and hope for a brighter future.
The Proclaimers – Craig and Charlie Reid – have supported Mary’s Meals for several years.
Craig says: “Summer is here, and there’s never been a better time to get your walking shoes on and raise money for this great charity.
“It costs just £15.90 to feed a hungry child with Mary’s Meals for an entire school year – so a little sponsorship can make a big difference.”
Charlie adds: “We’re not asking you to walk 500 miles, or 500 more… With Mary’s Meals, just a small number of steps can help to feed hungry children across the world.”
Mary’s Meals reaches 2,279,941 children every school day in 20 countries, including Ethiopia, Syria and Haiti.
Dan McNally, head of grassroots engagement at Mary’s Meals, says: “We serve Mary’s Meals in the world’s poorest, and often most difficult, locations because we know that’s where children need us the most.
“Today, we face some of our greatest challenges yet in a world devastated by conflict, food insecurity and the cost of living crisis. It is easy to feel hopeless when faced with so much suffering.
“But every single thing that people do for our mission makes an enormous difference to the children who eat Mary’s Meals.”
To find out more, please visit marysmeals.org.uk/move-for-meals
A team of former Scotland internationals and Glasgow Warriors rugby stars will be donning lycra this summer as they take on the ‘Break the Cycle’ challenge for homelessness charity Social Bite.
The team, led by ex-Scotland captain and current Warriors Managing Director, Al Kellock, and including the likes of Gregor Townsend, Sean Longstaff, Ryan Grant, Callum Forrester, and John Manson, as well as Glasgow Warriors staff, will be pedalling the 60-mile route on Sunday 4th September from Scotstoun Stadium through to BT Murrayfield in Edinburgh.
They’ll be joined on the day by Olympic legend Sir Chris Hoy, comedian Elaine C Smith and an estimated 1,000 fellow fundraising cyclists taking on either the 60, 20 or three-mile routes with the aim of raising £1m to fund vital projects to end homelessness.
The Warriors team is called ‘Team Tom Smith’ in memory of the former Scotland international who tragically passed away from colorectal cancer earlier this year. Ten per cent of all fundraising will be donated to a trust that has been set up by the Scottish rugby community in aid of Tom Smith’s family.
As well as the physical event, the Break the Cycle campaign is also open to all through virtual challenges – with individuals, workplace teams and schools all encouraged to take on their own challenges to raise money to end homelessness.
There’s something for all the family as well with the shorter cycling routes on offer and a host of live performances, and food and drink vendors at the finish site within BT Murrayfield.
Al Kellock, Glasgow Warriors Managing Director, said: “I’m so proud that as a club we’re able to support Social Bite’s incredible work and play a small part in helping to break the cycle of homelessness while also helping to support Tom Smith’s family after the incredibly tough time they’ve been through.
“I would encourage Scottish rugby fans to join me in setting off from Scotstoun all the way to BT Murrayfield and help us raise as much as possible.
“It’s been a wee while since some of us in the team have trained like we did when we were playing so we’d be very grateful for the support!”
Josh Littlejohn MBE, CEO and Co-Founder of Social Bite, said: “Break the Cycle is back this year, bigger and better and we’re thrilled to have Al and the rest of the Warriors on board to help us raise much-needed funds.
“The funds raised at Break the Cycle will help us support people across the country who have experienced homelessness, whether that’s through assisting people to find a safe place to call home, empowering people to get a job, or by providing free, fresh food to people who are homeless or suffering from food poverty.
“With our new routes this year, the support of our famous faces getting involved, and what promises to be a real festival feel at the finish line at BT Murrayfield, we’re in for a really exciting event. I’d encourage everyone to sign-up or donate if they can and come along to enjoy what’s set to be an incredible day.”
Since launching in October 2021, Social Bite’s Jobs First employment programme has already supported 17 people from a background of homelessness in to mainstream employment.
The barriers to work for people who have experienced homelessness are vast, and by partnering with some of the UK’s largest employers to ensure meaningful employment with wrap-around support, Social Bite is well on its way to surpassing its year one target of 20 people in jobs.
Break the Cycle takes place this September 4th.
To find out more, sign-up, or donate, please visit: www.breakthecycle.co.uk
Participants across the country are being invited to sign up to the Leukaemia Care Step Out Challenge for Spot Leukaemia, which launches this September.
The aim is to move as far as you can between 1st and 30th September and raise as much as you can – there’s no minimum limit. To take part you can walk, run, cycle or run and set whatever distance you want to. Once signed up, all you need to do is ask friends and family to sponsor whatever they can.
Chief Executive of Leukaemia Care, Zack Pemberton-Whiteley, said: “The challenge is free to sign up to and people can raise anything they can – as every penny raised makes a difference to those living to help make a difference to those living with a leukaemia, MDS or MPN diagnosis.”
Leukaemia Care is delighted to reveal this year’s medal in an eco-friendly design, to be given to anybody who reaches the £50 milestone.
There is also a fabulous new t-shirt for the 2022 event for anybody who raises over £100, while those who raise £250 or more will receive a £20 gift card for the Leukaemia Care online shop.
This year Leukaemia Care has introduced two fantastic overall trophies – one for the fundraiser that raises the most and another for the person who covers the most distance during the challenge.
Sign up to Step Out then join the Facebook community to get motivated for your challenge.
Ahead of Blood Cancer Awareness Month later this year, the charity is keen to share the six most common symptoms of leukaemia which are; fatigue, shortness of breath, fever or night sweats, bruising or bleeding, bone or joint pain, and repeated infections.
Learn more about the signs and symptoms of leukaemia here.
Weekend visitors to Silverknowes Promenade in Edinburgh should keep their eyes peeled for a sack race with a difference.
The Great Scottish Tattie Run is back after a three year absence and more than 300 participants are expected to race with a 20kg sack of Branston Potatoes on their back.
The fun event on Sunday (26 June) is free and open to all ages – female runners can opt for a 10kg bag of tatties – while youngsters grouped according to age can enter the Spud & Spoon race.
And every runner can cash in their chips, taking home their free Branston bag of spuds, in addition to a bespoke medal marking their completion of the race.
The 6th Great Scottish Tattie Run gets underway at 2pm and entries can be taken on the day for people arriving by 1.30pm. The adult race for men and women is 1 mile long, followed by a relay race featuring teams of four who will run 400 metres each, and rounding off the fun with the children’s event.
Event organiser Terry Crossley, of Great Scottish Events, said: “There is nothing quite like The Great Scottish Tattie Run and we hope the people of Edinburgh will come along to take part or just to cheer on the runners.
“Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, Branston, race entry is free and participants can also take home their 10kg or 20kg bag of tatties, and for younger runners they will have great fun in the Spud & Spoon race.
“After an absence of three years due to Covid restrictions, we are delighted to be back at wonderful Silverknowes and hope we can establish The Great Scottish Tattie Run as a not-to-be-missed fun family annual event.”
Kevin Imrie, general manager of Branston’s potato-packing site in Abernethy near Perth, said: “We’re delighted to be sponsoring this fantastic event once again and helping to raise funds for some very worthy charities in the process.
“Twenty kilos is a hefty weight to carry, never mind running a mile with it, so it’s real test of strength and stamina as well as a great way to work up an appetite for all those tatties.”
For more information and to enter the race, visit The Great Scottish Tattie Run or turn up on Sunday at Silverknowes Promenade near to the Boardwalk Beach Club by 1.30pm.
Website: www.greatscottishevents.net
