Kiltwalk marks mass participation return in Edinburgh with tribute to the Queen

Around 5,000 participants took part in the first Kiltwalk fundraising event to take place in Edinburgh since the Covid 2019 pandemic.

The event, which took place across the Scottish capital on Sunday September 18 to raise £2m for 500 charities in Scotland. To mark its return the event included tributes to the late Queen Elizabeth II, whose funeral took place yesterday.

This included a minute’s silence at the start of the fundraising walk.

In addition, pipers played in memory of the monarch at stages along the route, which was altered away from the Queen’s official residence Holyrood Palace out of respect for those visiting the location.



“I am incredibly proud of the Kiltwalk community for the respect they have shown at the death of Her Majesty the Queen whilst at the same time raising funds for 500 charities who really need it,” said Tom Hunter, whose Hunter Foundation tops up walkers’ fundraising by 50%.

“We thank each and every one of our Kiltwalk heroes for their amazing endeavours for the common good.”

Among celebrities taking part in the Edinburgh fundraiser were former footballer Graeme Souness and Commonwealth Games winning boxers Sean Lazzerini and Reese Lynch, who were raising money for the charity DEBRA.

Other charities to benefit over the weekend included Scottish Adoption, which posted messages of support to its fundraisers on Sunday on social media.



The Kiltwalk fundraiser has taken place in cities across Scotland since 2016 but became a virtual fundraiser amid the Covid pandemic.

As part of its return as a mass participation fundraiser the virtual element was retained.

Events took place in Aberdeen in May, Dundee in August and Edinburgh last weekend. The virtual weekend is scheduled for October.

The Glasgow Kiltwalk took place in April. Fundraisers taking part raised £2m, with the Hunter Foundation topping that total to £3, with 685 charities benefitting.

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