FUNDRAISING has become a family affair for mother and daughter Kirsty and Laura McFarlane of Newton Mearns.

When mum Kirsty, 44, started volunteering at the Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice two years ago, it wasn't long before her 10-year-old daughter Laura got involved too.

Now they will both get in step and take part, for the first time, in Clyde Stride on May 9.

The annual event to raise money for the Brick by Brick Appeal, backed by the Evening Times, starts at 8.30pm at the Riverside Museum. The evening walk, with the option of a 5K or 10K route, is fun for all the family with everyone in fancy dress.

"I first started volunteering regularly for the hospice two years ago. About five years ago I ran the London Marathon for the hospice because I have a friend who works here and my aunt died here a number of years ago," explains Kirsty.

"I wanted to come back and do something to help."

The former business adviser now puts her years of experience to good use, helping the fundraising team and is now part of the hospice's bureau of speakers, going out to schools, churches and local organisations to talk about the charity.

"I'm comfortable doing public speaking and enjoy it. I'm quite passionate about it actually," says Kirsty.

"I might go out to thank an organisation for doing some fundraising or go to schools if they are doing the Go Yellow Walk, for example, to do a presentation."

Kirsty is also a member of the ladies spa committee, a group of 10 women tasked with raising the £40,000 needed to fund one of the hi-tech bathrooms in the new hospice, to be built on a site at Bellahouston Park.

"We all do our own wee bit in different ways, and Laura has been helping me," says Kirsty.

Adds Laura, a pupil at Kirkhill Primary School: "I like helping people who are unwell. I did a bake sale with my friend that raised £250 and I helped out at the tea dance, selling raffle tickets and announcing the winning numbers."

Mother and daughter will be putting their best foot forward at Clyde Stride, aiming to complete the 5K route, around the Riverside Museum, past the Tall Ship to the Pumphouse and down to the Clydeside. After walking over the Arc Bridge they will return via Bell's Bridge.

Those doing the 10K walk will carry on to the Victoria Bridge, back over the Suspension Bridge, under the railway bridge and then on to the Tradeston Bridge, passing the hospice on the way. Then they zig-zag back over the Arc Bridge, the Bell's Bridge and back to the Riverside Museum.

"It's great for kids at this age to learn about fundraising and to do a wee bit to help," says Kirsty." And it's great for Laura and me to spend time together."

Although the event kicks off at 8.30pm, there will be entertainment at the Riverside Museum, including a DJ and a live Frozen show, starting from 6.30pm.

The event first started as the Midnight Walk but more families wanted to take part and the time was brought forward to earlier in the evening to allow children as young as eight years of age to come along.

Sponsored by Northern Forklift, employees and their staff have all taken part too and last year the event raised £22,000 for the appeal. This year organisers are hoping as many as 1000 people will walk Clyde Stride.

Everyone gets a Clyde Stride t-shirt and a medal on the evening.

The Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice was set up in Glasgow in the 1980s to provide free specialist palliative care for people with terminal illnesses, primarily cancer, as well as support for families and carers.

The Brick by Brick Appeal will help raise the remaining £15 million of the £20m needed to build the 21st-Century hospice on a site at Bellahouston Park.

The ground will be broken at the site of the new hospice next month and the building will bring facilities bang up to date as well as extending care to more people.

"Together, as we walk the streets of Glasgow, we'll lay the foundations for a new hospice," says Joyce Ross, senior community fundraiser for the hospice.

Registration costs £20 per adult and £10 per child with a family ticket of £50 for two adults and two children. Register at www.ppwh.org.uk/clydestride, email clydestride@ppwh.org.uk or call 0141 429 5599.