Islay charity champion completes fifth sponsored challenge
AN ISLAY-BORN fundraiser tackled her fifth sponsored challenge to raise cash for a homelessness and housing charity.
Kathleen Kettles, who splits her time between Kirriemuir and Port Charlotte, set off on the 73-mile journey from Fort William to Inverness on Monday having already raised £4,000 for the Shelter Scotland charity through a series of self-imposed challenges.
Since 2011 Kathleen has completed a 360-mile cycle from Broughty Ferry to Thurso, another cycle from Edinburgh to Glasgow and crossed Lochindaal off Islay by paddle board surrounded by Lion’s Mane jellyfish.
She also organised a charity music gig, all while preparing her own and her daughter’s weddings.
Kathleen, clinical director with a company offering help for people with anxiety, depression and other conditions, said: ‘I decided to do this walk because the housing crisis is an issue for everyone the length and breadth of Scotland.
‘I like to get out there with the Shelter Scotland t-shirt on and raise awareness and funds in rural areas as well as towns.
‘When I put one foot in front of the other I get just a small sense of the daily struggle that people who are homeless or living in poor housing go through. Good housing is such a very basic need and we should be able to meet this for everyone.’
Kathleen hopes to raise another £3,000 from her latest mission, while she has also committed herself to a further year of walking, promising to take a daily walk and donate £1 for every mile she walks in the next 365 days.
Graeme Brown, director of Shelter Scotland said: ‘It is only because of the efforts of fundraisers like Kathleen that Shelter Scotland can be there for people in housing crisis. Every penny she raises will be spent trying to bring an end to Scotland’s housing crisis sooner.
‘Kathleen’s dedicated and boundless energy is inspiring. She and her sponsors have my heartfelt thanks.’