Record year for Kiltwalks after £7m raised for charity
● A record 25,000 people took part ● Sir Tom Hunter hails their efforts
More than 1,300 Scottish charities will share £7 million raised after a record-breaking 25,000 people took part in this year’s Kiltwalks in Glasgow, Aberdeen, Dundee and Edinburgh.
The walkers raised £5m in sponsorship, with a further £2m donated by Sir Tom Hunter and The Hunter Foundation.
The £7 million is being distributed between 1,302 charities, large and small, helping them to carry out important work in communities all over Scotland.
To celebrate, Sir Tom met in Glasgow with seven Kiltwalk “superstars”, who made a significant contribution towards the success of this year’s events, and some of the charities who benefited, including the largest, Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity, and one of the smallest, “Coats for Kids” from Renfrewshire.
Sir Tom said: “To raise £7m for so many brilliant Scottish charities is an incredible achievement. I can’t begin to describe how proud I am that we managed to attract 25,000
Kiltwalkers this year. The £5m from the walkers and their families and friends plus our 40 per cent top-up will make a tremendous difference to those in need. It’s a privilege to make that difference and we’re hoping this growing Kiltwalk movement will achieve even more next year.
“Although this year’s results are fantastic, our work doesn’t stop here. With 2020 approaching, I’d like to challenge even more people to join us next year and make an even bigger difference to the charities and causes they care about by donning a wee bit of tartan and taking a walk!”
With 25,000 walkers taking part across all four main events, a 25 per cent increase on 2018, this year was the biggest for Kiltwalk to date.
The event was named as the UK’S fifth biggest mass participation fundraising event.
Next year the Kiltwalks will begin on 26 April in Glasgow, then 7 June in Aberdeen.
This will be followed by Kiltwalks on 16 August in Dundee and 13 September in Edinburgh
Malcolm Buchanan, chair of the Scotland Board of the Royal Bank of Scotland, said: “Royal Bank of Scotland is delighted to join forces with Arnold Clark to support the 2020 Kiltwalk. The Royal Bank has been a supporter of the Kiltwalk since the start.”