The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Tayside boy, 8, walks 30 miles for charity in memory of his mum
‘INSPIRATION’: Coastal trek from Angus to Fife raises funds to aid Marine Conservation Society
A young Tayside boy has raised £1,700 for a marine charity after walking 30 miles in memory of his mother, on what would have been her birthday.
Charlie Watts, 8, walked from Carnoustie to St Andrews on Sunday with his father Adam in aid of the Marine Conservation Society (MCS).
The amount raised is three times the target the Auchterhouse pair had set.
Mum Eileen passed away six years ago from cancer, and last year prolific fundraiser Charlie raised £3,700 for Roxburghe House, where she was looked after before she died.
Adam spoke of his immense pride in his son.
He said: “We’re both a bit stiff still but we’ve got happy memories from it.
“The amount raised is beyond what we could have hoped for and Charlie was ecstatic when I told him. We’re just delighted at how well it went.
“He went to bed quite late but was in school on time as usual yesterday.”
The walk began at Carnoustie Leisure Centre at around 8am and finished at St Andrews Aquarium just before 6pm, making the total walking time just under 10 hours.
The length roughly matched Charlie’s 10-hour walk back and forth over the Tay Road Bridge last year.
Adam revealed Charlie began to struggle at around the 20-mile mark but was given a boost by his supporters.
He said: “On the way to Guardbridge it was through fields, which was tough.
“The legs started to go and it was draining. He got a few phone calls from friends though and some people even came and joined us for the end stretch which helped a lot.
“There was a welcome party of between 20 and 30 people in St Andrews which was great too.”
Charlie was motivated by worldfamous conservationist and British TV legend David Attenborough and his BBC documentary series Blue Planet.
The show’s revelations made him fear for the environment due to the extent of plastic and rubbish in the world’s oceans.
The producers of the show previously said they were “delighted” to hear about his passion and efforts while the MCS have described Charlie as an “inspiration”.
“We’re both a bit stiff but we’ve got happy memories from it... the amount raised is beyond what we could have hoped for. ADAM WATTS