Fifers are being urged to get out and support a walk to raise funds for a cancer centre.
Local campaigner Dr Bob Grant will this weekend begin his latest nine day trek from Maggie's in Falkirk to its sister hub in Kirkcaldy - that's 117 miles.
He's raised around £40,00 for the charity in recent years, after losing his leg to cancer in 2002, having been diagnosed with the disease as a teenager.
His fourth walk for Maggie’s Fife, and his longest so far, starts at the Kelpies, in Helix Park, Falkirk, just a few miles from the site of Maggie’s Forth Valley which is being built in the grounds of Forth Valley Royal Hospital and which will be the eighth Maggie’s Centre in Scotland when it opens next year.
From there Dr Bob will walk for nine continuous days on a route along the Union Canal to the coast, then up the Fife Coastal Path and finally to Maggie’s Dundee on Sunday 21 June. Dr Bob will be joined by friends and supporters along the way and for the last stretch of the journey he will be joined by 100 bikers from the Dunedin Chapter.
Dr Bob said: “My enthusiasm for Maggie’s continues to grow. It is vital that funds are raised to ensure that the essential support that Maggie’s gives to people affected by cancer, and their family and friends, can continue.
“This is my fourth walk for Maggie’s and I know it will be exhausting because it’s day after day. It will be tiring but I know the endorphins will be flowing and any fatigue will be overwhelmed by the buzz!”
He added: “There are so many things to enjoy! In previous years, I have been joined en route by so many generous and interesting people and I look forward to meeting more this year. The route of the walk will take me through so many interesting and beautiful places. I can never get enough of the Fife Coastal Path and I’m looking forward to the ever-changing scenery, the wildlife, the East Neuk villages and of course the finale in Dundee. The last day is always amazing and always surprisingly emotional.”
Alison Harrow Centre Head at Maggie’s Fife said: “We are so proud of Dr Bob. He is fantastically committed to supporting Maggie’s, both in his work as Chair of our Fife Board, and also through this extraordinary challenge and the amazing funding he has already raised which helps Maggie’s to keep on supporting people with cancer and their family and friends.
“Travelling 117 miles on crutches is an exceptionally tough challenge and everyone at Maggie’s wishes him the best of luck for fine weather and an enjoyable journey. Numerous members of Maggie’s staff and volunteers will be joining Dr Bob at points along his route, so we will be able to cheer him on.”
Since his first walk for Maggie’s in 2007, Dr Bob has raised more than £40,000 for the charity. Mackays Jam and Marmalade have come on board as Dr Bob’s Walk Event Partners, and two Mackays staff members will be joining him for part of the walk to represent the organisation. FMC Technologies of Dunfermline are also supporting the walk.
Paul Grant, Chairman of Mackays, said: “Mackays are delighted to be supporting Dr Bob’s walk for the second year. We were immensely proud of his dedication and fundraising efforts in 2014 and look forward to an equally successful, if not better event this year, for Maggie’s.”
The route for Dr Bob’s 2015 walk for Maggie’s Fife starts at the Kelpies at Helix Park near Falkirk. From there the route will be via the Falkirk Wheel and along the tow-path of the Union Canal to Winchburgh . Then, leaving the canal, it will go on to Kirkliston, South Queensferry , over the Forth Road Bridge and on to the Fife Coastal Path all the way to the Tay Road Bridge. On the final day the route is over the Bridge to Dundee, passing Discovery Point, and ends at Maggie’s Dundee.
To donate text DOCB99 £5 to 70070 or visit https://www.justgiving.com/BobsWalk2015/
To find out more visit http://www.bobswalk.co.uk/ or https://www.facebook.com/BobsWalk
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