Edinburgh 2020 kiltwalk goes virtual as usual event cancelled due to Covid-19 - and charities desperately need your help

Kiltwalkers have been urged to don some tartan and take part in a weekend-long virtual version of the Edinburgh event after this year's walk was cancelled due to Covid-19 restrictions.
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The Big Virtual Kiltwalk Weekend will take place from September 11-13 and participants are being challenged to get active while adhering to social distancing measures to raise much-needed funds for charities of their choice.

Every pound raised will be topped up by a 50 per cent donation from The Hunter Foundation, a proactive venture philanthropy founded by businessman Sir Tom Hunter which underwrites the kiltwalk.

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In 2020 so far, kiltwalkers and The Hunter Foundation have raised and distributed £2.5 million, including £600,000 raised by a virtual version of the Dundee kiltwalk.

A kiltwalker during one of last year's kiltwalk events.A kiltwalker during one of last year's kiltwalk events.
A kiltwalker during one of last year's kiltwalk events.

It has also been confirmed that the Glasgow and Aberdeen kiltwalks, which were postponed during lockdown, can no longer go ahead and participants are being encouraged to join the Big Virtual Kiltwalk Weekend in September instead.

In a new video message, Sir Tom Hunter told kiltwalkers that their kindness is needed more than ever as many charities are struggling to survive after losing income due to the impact of Covid-19.

Sir Tom said: “We can’t all get together, but we’re going to go virtual. We tried it in Dundee and it was a fantastic success.

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“You can walk, swim, bounce on your space hopper – do whatever you want, for the charity of your choice. If ever there was a time when the folk who need our help need it most, it is now. So, put on a wee bit of tartan and get involved, get together, and get into the Kiltwalk spirit.”

Women doing the kiltwalk for Cancer Research UK in 2019.Women doing the kiltwalk for Cancer Research UK in 2019.
Women doing the kiltwalk for Cancer Research UK in 2019.

For more information about the kiltwalk visit www.thekiltwalk.co.uk

To view Sir Tom’s video message visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSMfyDjXqGE

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Another participant from a 2019 kiltwalk event.Another participant from a 2019 kiltwalk event.
Another participant from a 2019 kiltwalk event.
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