We’ve been humbled by the efforts of an intrepid trio of walkers over recent months who have laced up their boots and stepped out to raise funds for Hearts+Balls.
Our’ Sandra – better known as half of Team Taylor and Director of the Trust, Sandra Taylor – took on the Kiltwalk Glasgow in late April.
“It already feels like a distant memory,” she says, “but what a day it was. I managed to raise £2,380 – far beyond my £700 target – which was amazing. Even better, my feet survived it without too much trouble!”
Walking alongside a friend helped the pair maintain a great pace, “and we found ourselves overtaking quite a few groups – though we kept expecting them to pass us again once we ran out of steam!
“We had one stop at Dumbarton Park for some food, to recharge and, in a moment of questionable decision-making, decided to sit on the swings… getting off was not our most graceful moment!”
Crossing the finish line in Balloch Park was, she recalls, “Brilliant! Medals around our necks and cheers from the crowd waiting for loved ones. From there, we hopped on the shuttle bus to Loch Lomond Shores where our ‘logistics team’ (my sister) picked us up.
“It was a quick turnaround at home: a speedy shower, a change into our glad rags, and then straight off to the Glasgow Hilton for the Glasgow Warriors Awards Dinner where I had the honour of presenting SPEN’s Community Hero Award in memory of Jim.
“All in all, it was an emotional, unforgettable day.”
A couple of months later it was the turn of our youngest ambassador, Hamish Bell, to step up – quite literally – as he climbed Scotland’s three highest peaks, back-to-back.
He tackled Ben Macdui, Braeriach and Ben Nevis on 25 June, a poignant date as this was the day, in 2021, when the then 20-year-old suffered an unexplained cardiac arrest whilst training at his local Blairgowrie RFC. Without the quick reactions of team members and spectators with appropriate CPR training – and an externally mounted defibrillator at the club – the outcome could have been very different.
This was Hamish’s way of giving back and, after almost a year of planning and training, he not only completed the challenge but smashed his target of 24 hours by over three hours, raising £2587.50 in the process.
“Completing the challenge felt amazing,” he says. “What an achievement. I said to myself this is by far the hardest I have pushed myself. I was especially in a lot of pain in my hip flexor on the descent from Ben Nevis, in the dark with our head torches on.”
Hamish was accompanied on the climb by his brother and a friend, with his girlfriend and another friend in the support van who joined the trio for the ascent of Ben Nevis.
“Everyone stuck in and we finished in great time,” he adds before considering the question of whether he would repeat the feat?
“I definitely have some sort of bug to do it again, or something similar. I’m not sure yet but next year we will be setting off on a hike again.
“Once again, a massive thank-you to Hearts + Balls and all its members for their support – it pushed us on massively.”
The most recent road travelled was Kiltwalk Edinburgh, in September, which Eve Robertson, from the Borders, took on to raise money in memory of her much-loved cousin.
Richard Wilkinson, a gifted young rugby player, was returning home from taking part in a sevens tournament for his club, Hawick Wanderers, when he was killed in a car accident in 2009. As Hearts+Balls had supported her family after the tragedy, this was her way of giving back.
“Knowing I was doing it for a charity who helped my family so much was all the motivation I needed, on the day,” she says. “I was very nervous at the start, though – the atmosphere really does get you hyped up.”
There was extra motivation to come, however, as Eve spotted two familiar characters as the crowd set off – none other than Sir Chris Hoy and Sir Tom Hunter!
“Once the countdown finished and everyone started walking, I spotted them behind the barrier,” she recalls, “so I chanced my luck and asked for a photo. They asked which charity I was raising money for and why and wished me all the best.
“The fact I did it in my cousin’s memory was very emotional but kept me going. The last mile or two were the hardest as I could barely walk – but I also cried with emotion most of the last two miles!”
Having thought it would only be her aunt – Richard’s mum – at the finish line, she was overwhelmed to see her sister and mum there to surprise her, by which time, “I was bawling my eyes out with pride and emotion.
“Thank you so much to every single person who supported me and continues to support me.”
Eve’s total currently sits at £927.50 (including Gift Aid) and her JustGiving page remains open.
