A Moray charity which faces being left out of pocket following the cancellation of a major fundraiser has rallied to stage its own event.
Since 2012 the Speyside Kiltwalk has helped raise thousands for worthy causes, but last month organisers opted to axe this summer’s gathering and four others across Scotland.
The decision came as the troubled group was taken over by the Hunter Foundation in June, following financial difficulties.
Lossiemouth-based children’s cancer charity Logan’s Fund, which would have benefited from the Speyside Kiltwalk next month, was left “devastated” by the decision.
But, upon learning that scores of walkers planned to traverse the Speyside Way regardless of the cancellation, the team behind the fund elected to hold The Walk as a replacement for the scrapped trek.
Logan’s Fund was set up in 2008 in honour of three-year-old Logan Main, who died as a result of aggressive childhood cancer neuroblastoma.
Group chairman Cameron Mackintosh said: “We were set to be one of two main beneficiaries from the Speyside Kiltwalk this year, so we were devastated when we were notified it was cancelled.
“Simply by having teams take part in the past three Kiltwalk events we have managed to double our annual income and we were set to benefit hugely from being a primary partner this year.
“When we heard people were still planning to walk the Speyside Way anyway, we were very humbled, and we decided to turn what had been a negative for us into a positive.”
Elgin’s Aila Coull foundation was also due to benefit from the Speyside Kiltwalk and many taking part in next month’s event will carry on in aid of the leukaemia charity.
The Walk will take place on August 30 and volunteers from both charities will patrol the Speyside Way to assist participants.
All walkers will complete their trek at Alice Littler Park in Aberlour, but there are options to get there by travelling 26 miles from Buckie, 16 miles from Fochabers or two and a half miles from Craigellachie.
Organisers have asked participants to e-mail thewalkspeyside@gmail.com with their details and information on how far they plan to walk and what charity they are raising funds for.