Pain is Temporary, Your Achievements last forever

Outside of The Kiltwalk if there was a charity I’d be proud to be part of, it would be the award winning A&M Scotland who have been delivering diversionary based activities for young people aged 7 – 25 across 25 local community sites throughout Glasgow and West Central Scotland for the last four years, with phenomenal results.
 
The young people A&M work with are often at risk of becoming involved in anti-social and / or criminal behaviour, substance abuse / misuse and gang membership or violence.  However the activities provided by A&M, divert young people from negative situations which may impact on their lives and opportunities in the future. By working in Partnership with Glasgow City Council CPP, GHA, Community Safety Glasgow, Glasgow Life and Police Scotland official figures show that Disturbance Calls are down 26%, Street Drinking Calls down 81% and Youth Disorder Calls requiring Police attention are down 56% in the areas where A&M have a presence.
 
In addition to transforming negative energy to positive outcomes A&M aim to improve participants’ physical health and well being by increasing participation in physical activity and sport, and by educating them about the benefits of healthy diet and lifestyle.  They also encourage participants to develop personal and social skills, self-efficacy, self-esteem, and personal responsibility.
 
The mystery man in today’s Blipfoto is Robert McHarg, CEO of A&M who along with ex footballer, Andy McLaren, founded A&M Training as it was then back in 2009. As you would expect, with a successful playing career including a Scotland International cap, Andy is often the face and spokesperson of A&M, which is just the way the very modest guy that Robert is, likes it.
 
However with 25 years of working with young people that includes youth work, residential care, policy making and business development, Robert is one of the key driving forces behind the success of A&M. As CEO, Robert’s role within A&M is to lead and manage the organisation and set its strategic vision and goals. He also manages the planning, delivery and monitoring of our programmes, as well as countless other tasks and responsibilities. He is passionate about the work A&M do and since partnering with The Kiltwalk, has become equally passionate and inspired by what The Kiltwalk achieves for Scotland’s Children.
 
This passion has led to Robert being able to proudly say “I’m a Kiltwalker” where in 2014 he took part in his first Kiltwalk experience. To quote Robert “he’s a Kiltwalker because The Kiltwalk is a catch all charity for Scotland's children and he recognises it’s become a community based movement, benefiting those that need it most - our children, be they black, white, rich, poor, healthy or needing medical support.
 
Robert inspires those around him, which is clear for all to see. He takes his inspiration from the work A&M do, however he also takes inspiration from those close to him and are fighting their own personal battles.
 
People like his wife and soulmate, Sharon, who has been battling breast cancer for several years now through a mixture of clinical trials, family support and sheer determination and long may that determination continue.
 
He also walks and runs while thinking of a close friend of his who is a political refugee having fled from torture in his home country, which means he hasn’t seen his own son for 12 years and as a father himself, Robert understands the torment this brings.
 
Another inspiration is Robert and Sharon’s best friends son who has been living with a brain tumour for the past 5 years which has resulted in him losing his sight. Therefore Robert is acutely aware of how his sponsorship money directly helps the people who help our children.
 
To quote Robert again “all of these inspirational people remind me of how lucky I am to have the choice to be able to run or even walk, to see my kids and to be thankful that I have a strong, supportive, family and group of friends who are behind me and encourage me”.
 
Quite simply put Robert realises how precious life is so he walks and runs not only because he can, but because he wants to make a difference to as many people’s lives as he can.
 
As you’ll see from today’s picture, which was taken last Sunday after Robert ran the London Marathon for The Kiltwalk, he will literally expend blood, sweat and tears for the charity he believes in.
 
That’s why tomorrow he will cover his third 26 mile event within four weeks when he pulls the walking boots back on and joins two thousand of our Kiltwalkers who are taking part in the Edinburgh Kiltwalk, which will be the second of the six he’s walking this year for Scotland’s Kids.
 
If you see him tomorrow, you won’t know it from his face. However if you see a grown man in tears and looking for nipple pads, you’ll know who he is, so mind and say hello.