Fife Soroptimists complete Virtual Kiltwalk to raise cash for charity

Jenny McLeod and Maureen Collison both took part in the first ever Dundee Virtual Kiltwalk.

The event was arranged after organisers of the regular annual Kiltwalk in Dundee were forced to cancel the 2020 fundraising event due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Instead, participants in the Virtual Kiltwalk observed social distancing and ‘walked separately together’ over the weekend of July 3 to 5.

The two local ladies stepped out to raise funds for the three year Soroptomist project, Empowering Girls in Nepal.

The initiative is partnered with UK registered charity ChoraChori, which is the Nepalese word of ‘children’, and it aims to protect vulnerable girls who have been raped or trafficked and to help them to overcome the stigma and to rebuild their lives.

The girls are empowered through education and training in skills which can help them to gain meaningful employment, giving them the future they 
deserve.

ChoraChori is leading the fightback against violence towards girls and supports their families, and ensures that the rapists face justice.

To complete the fundraiser, Jenny and Maureen walked on different days along sections of the Fife Coastal Path.

Kathleen Brown, from the local branch of Soroptimists International, said: “Jenny walked from North Queensferry to Kinghorn, and Maureen from Burntisland to St David’s Harbour at Dalgety Bay and back.

“Both ladies challenged themselves by each walking 15 miles, and Jenny who will be 80 soon, did most of her walk in the rain!

“They missed the company of other walkers, the camaraderie, fun, excitement and the pitstops of an actual Kiltwalk, but Sir Tom Hunter and the Hunter Foundation generously doubled the funds they raised which made a total of £3100 for Empowering Girls in Nepal. Well Done Jenny and Maureen.”

The virtual Kiltwalk was organised to ensure charities could still benefit from fundraising at a time when they need it most as the pandemic has meant many fundraising events have been cancelled.

Over 200 charities benefitted from the first-ever Dundee Virtual Kiltwalk with Sir Tom Hunter adding to people’s funds.