Lang May Yer Lum Reek - Memories of Kiltwalk 2013

With the hours of 2013 disappearing as fast as the grains of sand in an egg timer, I thought I’d post one last Blipfoto Journal, listing my own personal highlights and memories of the year that’s about to come to an end.

My first memory of the year was waking up on the morning of 21st April 2013 and pulling back the curtains to see the rain I’d heard falling all night. This led to an instant sinking feeling which was “well there’s no going back now. I just hope everyone turns up”.

My main highlight of the year was meeting the inspirational lady pictured above and I’m sure many of you recognise the one and only Elaine Mitchell.

However let’s cover a few others first.

Oor inaugural Burns Supper Awards night took place in January at the Grand Central Hotel in Glasgow and was, in my opinion, a roaring success. The evening was about recognising our wonderful 2012 Partner Charities, CLIC Sargent, Aberlour, CHAS and TACC and presenting each of them with Kiltwalk cheques from the money raised by our Kiltwalkers.

It was also a night to get to meet some of our Kiltwalkers and pay recognition to some special people by announcing the winners of our various award categories. Question is, whose going to win the 2013 awards? You can be there on the night by buying your tickets at http://www.thekiltwalk.co.uk/main/events-and-fundraising/kiltwalk-burns-supper-and-awards-night-2013.html

Glasgow also saw a new name arrive in the Kiltwalk Family, when she caused what was internally called #busgate It’s a long story, and one that’s been told on here before, however as we were in the middle of the storm, I remember saying to Carey “every problem provides the opportunity to impress. I bet we get her to take part in another one”.

That may not be exactly word for word, but it’s a true story, so after the Kiltwalk seeping into her blood, while the blood seeped from her feat, it was easy enough to get Joanne Docherty on board, not that any of us realised where that journey would end.

Then there’s Oor Teams. There are far too many for me to know personally, or even remember, so apologies in advance. However you couldn’t turn up at any of our Kiltwalks without seeing walkers Kiltwalking for Aila’s Amblers, Keane’s Stars, Team Aine and Logan’s Fund. Team Dyas and Team Summer were out again in force, while we had Team Zoe, Wee Jack’s Tartan Team and Team Camper Van Scotland who raised money for CHAS and Yorkhill based on their own personal experiences.

I couldn’t possibly finish talking about teams without mentioning Team FOLLAT and the lads fae Dunfermline. Team FOLLAT, led by Sandra Dyson amassed a team in excess of 100 people who took part in the Glasgow Kiltwalk and raised a phenomenal amount of money for The Kiltwalk and other causes.

Team FOLLAT also introduced us to Ben Fraser, a then 15 year old, who in the middle of his battle fighting Leukaemia walked the 26 miles from Hampden Park to Loch Lomond. I really don’t have the words left that describes his bravery and courage, so all I ask is you have a read at the Blip Journal we wrote about him back in April http://www.blipfoto.com/entry/2976956

As for the Lads n Lassies fae Fife, their efforts on behalf of The Kiltwalk and local community projects is almost unsurpassed in my opinion. They are quite simply a great bunch and if truth be known, it wouldn’t feel like a Kiltwalk if John Nicol wasn’t pestering everyone with his camera or Mike wasn't grumbling about something :-)

Speyside, as last year, was a joy and was the first time The Kiltwalk went camping as around 30 Kiltwalkers pitched up for the weekend. It was also my introduction to Kiltwalk Stovies, which meant when Aberdeen came round, I couldn’t wait for the Stovie van to open up.

I also had the pleasure of meeting Roddy McDonald at Speyside and we stood gabbing for hours about a very special little girl, who sadly grew her winds the year before. I’ll keep the content of our conversations private, however suffice to say there were tears rolling down both our cheeks that afternoon. Must have been the wind blowing in our face.

Remember the camping Kiltwalkers I mentioned? Well they and other hardened Kiltwalkers spent the night jigging away at The Mash Tun, when to be honest they should have been zipped up in their tents. It made for a very ‘sore’ Monday morning, or was that just me :-(

Soupwalk Sunday was a blast and can’t wait to catch up with Darren and everyone at the Waterside Inn early in 2014 to start training, all over again. Have a read at what we get up to at http://www.blipfoto.com/entry/2887491 and drop us a line if you want to take part in 2014.

The Waterside Inn was also the venue for our first venture into the world of Kiltwalk Entertainment back in the summer when we hosted a night of comic entertainment from Rosie Kane, who performed her “Kilt yersel Laughing” set. Everyone enjoyed the drinking, sorry entertainment that much, we had a Kiltwalk Band night at The Admiral Bar in Glasgow, which was a chance for over 100 Kiltwalkers to meet up and drink some more, while recalling tales of aches and pains from the past year.

Edinburgh was an eerie affair, which started at a mist covered Murrayfield, which was still hanging in the air and had been joined by rain as the walkers set off. It was therefore totally surreal to hear our walkers were being given ice creams cones as they hit the beach. As one of our Kiltwalkers David Speirs said “at one point I was standing with a bag of donuts in one hand, a hamburger in the other, while trying to eat an ice cream!! But I loved every single minute of it and I'll be back next year”.

Edinburgh was also very memorable when at 21:20 the last two walkers crossed the line. They had struggled for around 12 miles and at one point we discussed picking them up at the 20 mile mark. However when we found out the reason they were walking, we all stood there and were ready to stay until midnight if required. It goes without saying there were tears as they crossed the line and it wasn’t just theirs.

February had another surreal moment when I found myself in the offices of the American Scottish Foundation, on the 9th floor of 575 Madison Avenue talking about the possibility of a New York Kiltwalk. Keep your eyes and ears open if that’s something that will be of interest to you.

Other highlights in were battling hard to hold those flags down at the finishing line at Aberdeen and watching the reaction of a whole new gang of Kiltwalkers as they smiled, crawled and cried their way over the line.

Oor Kiltwalk kids, who can forget them, they make you realise what it’s all about.

The CLIC Sargent pit stop at Clydebank, it was fantastical and it had everything.

And finally, being invited to Elgin for the Keanes Stars Annual Ball and being made to feel extremely welcome, can’t wait for next year :-)

My final and overriding memory is three miles into the Glasgow Kiltwalk, when I spotted a “white cap” up ahead of me. The rain was still pouring down and if anything, seemed heavier than at the start, however in true Glasgow style there hadn’t been a single call off, nor was there any sign of dissension amongst the ranks. They had all signed up to raise money for Oor Weans, and that’s what they were going to do.

The special, unique atmosphere created by The Kiltwalk was in full flow which meant the miles quickly passed and that’s when I saw that white cap.

The cap, was an Aila’s Amblers cap, and was being proudly worn by Elaine Mitchell, a happily, contended Mum of two, who had decided to take part in all FIVE Kiltwalks to raise money for the foundation named in memory of Aila Coull, a little girl and family she’d never met, but yet she realised none of us have in say when it comes to something like cancer. You can read more of Elaine at http://www.blipfoto.com/entry/3179704

Of course with two kids of her own, Elaine couldn’t take part in our events across the country without the support of friends and family. Her husband was there to clap her across the line at every Kiltwalk and her kids were at as many as they could.

However, on the occasions they couldn’t travel, that’s where Grandparents like Granddad, Gordon Mitchell come to the rescue. I met Gordon, pictured above, at the end of the Aberdeen Kiltwalk and when Elaine introduced me, he had a “go at me” in the way a Glaswegian does i.e. with a twinkle and wink of the eye. He bemoaned being put upon, as Elaine traveled the country taking it easy by walking 26 miles every other weekend. Glaswegians do like to exaggerate. It goes without saying that Gordon, is a doting Granddad and is also extremely proud of his Daughter in Law, Elaine and so he should be. So this is my own little tribute to a special lady, who walked miles and miles for a fantastic Charity, The Aila Coull Foundation and also raised loads more for The Kiltwalk at the same time. Look forward to catching up with you in January and if Sine or Kirsty ever buy me that drink they owe me, I’ll make sure they buy you one at the same time :-)

So as 2014 edges ever closer, let’s remember what The Kiltwalk is all about.

It’s about raising as much money as possible for Scotland’s Children’s Charities and causes. This year we set a target of £1 million pounds and due to your efforts, we’ve reached that target and have already awarded some of that much hard earned money to our Kiltwalk Teams.

Looking forward, our objective as a charity, is to create a sustainable organisation for many years to come and become Scotland’s favourite Children's fund raising event.

To do this we need to operate in a manner that will achieve all of our objectives, which has inevitably seen us transition from a Voluntary setup, to a full time one where we now have an established Kiltwalk Office and now employee nine dedicated, professional employees all of whom work tirelessly and enthusiastically on behalf of The Kiltwalk.

Next Year, in Kiltwalk terms has already started with plans and progress well in place as we have various ‘social’ events in January and our first Kiltwalk of 2014 is only 14 weeks away when we start meeting old friends and new at every Kiltwalk.

So as 2013 becomes a distant memory, it’s time to do it all again in 2014, so, you up for it Kiltwalkers?

Happy New Year and Lang May Yer Lum Reek