THOUSANDS of people turned out for the annual Kiltwalk from to raise funds for Scottish children's charities.

 

They strutted their stuff on the fourth sponsored walk from Glasgow to Balloch a distance of 26 miles.

The previous three events helped the charity distribute £2.4milion to charities and organisations which benefit the country's youngsters.

Kiltwalk chairman Michael Ure said: "We are incredibly excited the 2015 Kiltwalk season is finally underway and what a way to start.

"All the hard work is worth it when you see our intrepid Walkers kilted, booted and ready to take on a hard day's walking for the sake of Scotland's children.

"After everything that's happened in the last few months, this year's Kiltwalks are even more special and I think the spirit, atmosphere and sense of togetherness of this year's Glasgow Kiltwalk reminded everyone what makes Kiltwalks such incredibly important events in the third sector event calendar."

This year's 26 mile walk left from Hampden Park Stadium, while the 14 mile Half Walk started at Clydebank Play Drome. Both finished in Balloch on the banks of Loch Lomond.

Walkers were raising funds for this year's 17 charity partners, or by walking as part of a team or five or more could nominate a

Kind-hearted Kiltwalkers also brought food stuff to donate to Drumchapel Food Bank and Clydebank Play Drome.

Oonagh Brown, foodbank development worker for Drumchapel Foodbank, said: "We were delighted to be invited to this year's Glasgow Kiltwalk where the walkers showed such tremendous generosity.

"The food stuffs collected will make a huge difference to the lives of the families we help."

This year for the first time, the Kiltwalk had an army of fully trained volunteers - the Kilties - to help prepare for the event and the day itself.

Kiltie Kirsteen Wilson, 30, from Glasgow, said: "It's been great fun. It has been a fantastic chance to meet some really interesting people and learn lots about what amazing work different charities do.

"I just think if these guys can walk 26 miles in the rain and still smile than I can play my part by volunteering."

About The Kiltwalk:

- Kiltwalks are unique Scottish sponsored walking events which sees Walkers tackling either 26, 13 or 6 mile distances, all in the name of Scotland's children.

- In three years The Kiltwalk has given £2.4 million to Scotland's children's causes.

- In 2014 we received 165 grant nominations - that's 165 charities, organisations and individuals picked by teams to receive a Kiltwalk grant.

- Teams of five or more walkers can nominate a cause of their own to receive a grant from The Kiltwalk of up to 50% of whatever they raise! Teams of twenty or more can receive 75% of their total funds raised. These causes can include charities, appeals, schools or kids clubs so long as children are the beneficiaries.

- We have 17 charity partners for the 2015 events.