Bob's Walk planned to link two Maggie's Centres

The fundraiser for Maggie’s Fife, led by retired GP Bob Grant, returns to Fife’s coastal path for a special event next month.

It will be a Maggie’s to Maggie’s walk, starting at the Kirkcaldy centre, and finishing at the new Forth Valley building just days before its official opening.

And, as always, it will set out to raise as much money as possible for Maggie’s Fife.

The 2017 walk may be shorter than previous hikes at just 46 miles, but it celebrates a landmark for the cancer care centre network in Scotland.

Bob explained: ‘‘When we did our walk two years ago, we started at the Kelpies in Falkirk.

‘‘The thinking behind that was that we could visit the Forth Valley centre en route, but it was behind schedule so we couldn’t do that.

‘‘Doing a walk to Forth Valley has always been in my mind, so, when the invite to its official opening came through the post, I thought this was the time to do it.’’

Bob will lead a core team of walkers from past fundraising initiatives on a journey from Maggie’s Centre in Kirkcaldy along Fife Coastal Path to the Kincardine Bridge.

They will then complete their journey passing through Carronshore, Stenhousemuir to the new centre in Larbert which officially opens 48 hours after the walkers arrive.

The route has been planned by Kirkcaldy man, Bert Hannah, who will be part of the team which includes Bob’s walkers members Irene Ness, Carol Lawson, plus Allan Crow, editor of the Press, and Brian Forrester ... and, of course, Bob and Joan Grant.

They will be joined each day by many supporters who can make their own way along the path to be part of the Maggie’s to Maggie’s fundraiser.

Day one on Friday, March 10, will cover from Kirkcaldy to Aberdour.

On the Saturday they will reconvene in the heart of Aberdour and walk to Limekilns.

The next two days takes them across the Kincardine Bridge and on to the Forth Valley centre – the eighth facility to open in in Scotland.

Its opening means Maggie’s will have completed its Scottish footprint, with a presence at every major cancer treatment centre north of the border.

It is also the sixth walk led by Bob.

His first in 2003 was just six months after he had his leg amputated.He has raised tens of thousands of pounds for Maggie’s Fife with walks in 2007, 2009, 2013 and 2015 thanks to the generosity of supporters – and he hopes they will dig deep once more.

>> The 2017 Bob’s Walk offers a host of sponsorship opportunities to maximise the fundraising.

They range from your name on the walkers’ t-shirts to being the event partner – from £250 up to £5000.

There are even invites to join the walking team as part of your sponsorship package.

For individual donations, go online to Bob’s Walk

You can also donate by text. To donate £5 just text BOBG47 £5 to 70070.

To donate £10 just text BOBG47 £10 to 70070.