Staff at a children’s respite care project are stepping up to make life more fun.
The team at Countryview, which is managed by the Quarriers charity, looks after children with learning and/or physical disabilities.
And they’ve decided to take part in this year’s virtual Kiltwalk in April to raise money to buy new toys and outdoor play equipment.
The team of ten, based at Quarriers Village on the outskirts of Bridge of Weir, have all started training for the marathon challenge, which takes place over the weekend of April 23 to 25.
Depute project manager Shannon Morrison said: “I have done the Kiltwalk before from Glasgow to Balloch. You feel fantastic afterwards, but it’s definitely tiring.
“It is nice to feel like we’re doing it together.
“We thought the Kiltwalk would be a good way to do something on our own.
“We’re going to get T-shirts made up with Quarriers on it, but all the money we raise will go to Countryview.”
The staff group is planning to walk the whole 26 miles in one day, but haven’t finalised the route yet.
Countryview looks after between five and eight children at a time, all aged from five to 18.
The service offers a welcome respite to families and their children and the staff want children to have more to play with when they stay there.
They are keen to buy things like new bikes and outdoor games for the summer, as well as bedding and sensory toys.
Shannon said: “We just want to have some new stuff for the kids, some toys for them to use outside like bikes and that sort of thing.
“We want to make it more fun for the children who come here.”
So far, the team has raised £870 and is hoping for more as the challenge gets closer.
Since 2016, the Kiltwalk has raised £11.4million and The Hunter Foundation has added £4.2m – a total of £15.6m for over 2,000 charities.
It has run events across Scotland in the past, but, due to the pandemic, it has moved to one event, Scotland’s Virtual Kiltwalk, to allow charities to mobilise their supporters to raise much needed funds.
Everything raised by Kiltwalkers is topped up by 50 per cent by The Hunter Foundation.
To support the efforts of the Countryview staff, go to https://virtual.thekiltwalk.co.uk/fundraising/ScotlandsVirtualKiltwalk2021-ErinArthur
