Two popular fundraising events taking place in Edinburgh next month have been awarded funding by the cities Activcity Sports Programme. The council funded scheme has announced they will support the Great Scottish Walk and Great Wee Scottish Walk taking place in Edinburgh in June 2008.
The Great Wee Scottish Walk takes place in the grounds of Fettes College on Sunday 15th June 2008 from 11am until 2pm
The Great Scottish Walk will be leaving from Meadowbank Stadium on Sunday 22nd June 2008 starting from 10.30 am going through to 4pm.
Scots hero John Smeaton will be the Edinburgh Great Walk special guest on Sunday 22nd June!
Owner of the walks Priscilla Turner commented;
“This is wonderful news and a real boost for the walks which take place in the Capital. It is wonderful to receive support and funding from local councils and hope this is a sign of things to come!”
Launched in 1998, the Great Scottish Walk has been an annual event in Edinburgh for the last 10 years. Simultaneously supporting healthy living, these events offer the public the opportunity to be actively involved in beneficial health activities, community events and charitable fundraising, regardless of age, fitness and physical ability. Walkers can choose from three distances; 1 mile, 6miles or 12 miles creating an event which is non elitist and open to all. In 2004, the Great Wee Scottish Walks were also launched, specifically designed to engage youngsters up to the age of 16.
Warm ups and activities will be provided at the Edinburgh Wee Scottish Walk through a partnership with the city based organisation Skootkids. Companies and organisations who will be present and participating on the day include; Enjoy-a-ball and Play 2 Learn sports coaching for children, Excel Sports Academy and Angela Watson School of Dance.
The Edinburgh Great Scottish Walk will be officially opened by Lord Provost George Grubb and confirmed activities and entertainment at the Edinburgh Great Walk include; a warm up with Tracy Griffen, (voted one of the top six personal trainers in the UK by Harpers Bazaar), Proclaimercise organised by RNIB. The George Watson Pipe Band will be leading walkers to the starting point whilst live music and entertainment will be provided by Chaplins Disco Bus, Capital Concert band a 30 piece wind ensemble, an Oompah Band, and the Top Cats Jazz Band who will be performing en route outside the Malmaison hotel. A market place environment will also be created on the day with information, fundraising and trade stalls.
There is still time to sign up for either of the two walks – this can be done in one of three ways visit http://www.greatscottishwalk.com , call 0131 273 3019 or enter on the day at the late entry desk.
Entry costs £5 per child 0-16 years for the Wee Walk and parents go free and £10.00 per adult and £8 per child for the Great Scottish Walk if walking for one of the 100 affiliated charities.
For the first time, the Great Scottish Walks and Wee Walk have also been recognised as a component in Scotland’s healthy living campaign and have received endorsement from the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing.
The 2008 series of walks have received support and funding from organisations including; Paths to Health, Scottish Slimmers, Highland Spring, the National Centre for Healthy Working Lives, Tesco as well as the Edinburgh Activcity Council Programme.
