Nicola Sturgeon joins 10,000 Kiltwalkers as fundraising event returns raising £3m

A crowd of more than 10,000 Kiltwalkers mounted a tartan takeover in Glasgow as the fundraising event returned raising £3m for charity.

The event, where walkers dressed in kilts to take on routes up to 23 miles long, saw £2m drummed up for 685 charities across Scotland with a 50% top-up from The Hunter Foundation on every £1 collected.

This year marks a return for in-person Kiltwalks in Glasgow, Aberdeen, Dundee and Edinburgh following the pandemic.

Sir Tom Hunter, from the Foundation, said: “I regard the success of Kiltwalk as one of the foundation’s greatest achievements. It was a joy to see so many of our Kiltwalk heroes out in their tartan this morning at Glasgow Green.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon walks for Who Cares? Scotland in the Glasgow KIltwalk 2022 Wee Wander routes setting off from Loch Lomond Shores on Sunday, April 24. Kiltwalk

“Their kindness means the world to me and to Scotland’s charities, and I can’t stress enough how much it’s appreciated in these toughest of times.

“After a challenging few years, Scotland’s charities benefit from every donation so Kiltwalkers should be very proud of the difference they have made today.”

Famous faces to took part included Nicola Sturgeon, STV’s Laura Boyd raising funds for STV Children’s Appeal, broadcaster Jackie Bird and River City actor Stephen Purdon.

The First Minister completed the three-mile walk for Who Cares? Scotland, a national voluntary organisation working with care experienced young people and care leavers.

STV's Laura Boyd at the Glasgow Kiltwalk. — STV’s Laura Boyd at the Glasgow Kiltwalk. STV News

“I’m delighted to be taking part in the Kiltwalk today to support the vital work of Who Cares? Scotland and hear about the issues faced by those care experienced people taking part,” she said.

Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS) raised more than £1m before adding their Glasgow Kiltwalk total. The charity also boasted the largest number of walkers at the event.

Fiona Leslie, senior community and challenge events fundraiser, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have been part of Scotland’s Kiltwalk and would like to say a massive thank you to every walker who took on the challenge for CHAS in our 30th anniversary year.

“We are blown away by the amount of people who signed up in 2022 and all the funds raised will make a huge difference to the children with life shortening conditions and their families that we support across Scotland and to know this is topped up generously by 50% from Sir Tom Hunter is absolutely incredible.”

Including the latest fundraising figures, Scotland’s Kiltwalk event has raised over £32m for 2850 charities since April 2016, six years to the day on Sunday.