"I feel I've let people down"

I’ve come to the conclusion that if you picked ten Kiltwalkers out a hat, put them in a room and asked them to say why they’re involved in The Kiltwalk, you’d hear ten different answers.

So I’m really looking forward to Sunday’s Angus Kiltwalk as Kiltwalk Day gives you a chance to meet the people you’ve spent months communicating with through “the glass” i.e. computer screen, mobile phone or tablet device, so to finally catch up and hear their Kiltwalk story brings it all to life.

We all have our own special reason for doing what we do. Some walk in memory, some walk as a means of thanks, some, like Elaine Mitchell, simply walk because they can and want to help others.

The common denominator, in all of us, is the desire to help make a difference so that Scotland’s children, no matter what awful circumstances they face, are cared for as best they can be.

One such person is the guy with the beaming smile in today’s Blipfoto.

His name? Mike McManus and Mike’s a Kiltwalker, his wife Isabel is a Kiltwalker and for those of you who browse through our journal will know, his kid’s are Kiltwalkers.

The picture above is how Mike’s friends know him best, laughing away with a grin that’s only removed when he’s told it’s his turn at the bar. It’s a grin that lights up a room, however on the last occasion I had the pleasure of meeting Mike, he wasn’t smiling, far from it.

He was beating himself up and I’ll tell you why shortly, but first let me share how Mike got involved in The Kiltwalk.

Mike’s Kiltwalk journey started two years ago when he enrolled on the Football Fans in Training course, run by Dunfermline Athletic Football Club. The purpose of the programme was to facilitate and encourage a lifestyle change for men of a “certain age” who, to put it bluntly, needed to lose some weight to improve their general well-being.

It takes quite a lot of guts to look in the mirror and realise that you are “that age” and could lose more than just a few pounds, but Mike recognised it and so he enrolled. He enrolled as it was a short sharp 12-week course and hopefully by the end of it, he would feel he’d achieved something. Of course history tells us there has been “no end” and never in a million years could anyone of predicted what Mike achieved.

During the three month program Mike met like-minded individuals who all experienced an improvement in their well-being and reduction in their weight and the comradery formed during that time was such that a group of those men decided 12 weeks wasn’t long enough and vowed to continue to build on what their fitness and good habits they’d learned.

They had received tremendous support from their families and local community and felt they wanted to turn all this new found activity and wellbeing into something positive. That something turned out to be The Kiltwalk and so they all enthusiastically enrolled for the Hampden to Loch Lomond in April 2012.

Mike quickly established himself as the natural leader of the group. He understood The Kiltwalk was a fantastic way of raising money for the kids our charities support and became the main driving force behind the fundraising initiatives. He formed the Dunfermline Kiltwalk team and launching their fundraising page so everyone could keep track of what they’d raised.

Mike also realised The Kiltwalk could benefit a local Dunfermilne charity, Home-Start. Home-start provides a unique service in the area as they support families who are experiencing everything from isolation, to illness, bereavement, disability or simply find parenting a struggle.

As the 8th April 2012 drew nearer Mike’s sense of responsibility heightened, which meant that as he led his team out at Hampden Park, he was completely focused on ensuring everyone in the team completed the walk. And complete it they did, every single one of them.

It wasn’t a day without incident as it nearly went terribly wrong after only 5 miles, when one of the team convinced themselves they just weren’t going to make it and wanted to give up. However, with Mike’s encouragement and motivation, he installed belief back into her and she went on to complete all 26 miles.

By the time they had finished counting all their hard earned sponsorship, they had collectively raised £6,000, with Mike raising the highest individual total for the team. Not that you’d hear him talk of such things of course. It meant the world to Mike and the team, it was a great achievement and it meant they were able to provided Home-Start with the single biggest personal donation they had ever received.

So the Dunfermilne Kiltwalkers had achieved their goal. The training had all been worth it and Scotland’s Kids and a local charity had benefited, so that was surely the end of the adventure, wasn’t it?

Wrong, that was just the start of it.

Mike was now well and truly bitten by the Kiltwalk bug. So much so that before people could even walk properly, or their blisters healed after their exertions, Mike was planning for 2013.

Without taking breath, Mike announced that “targets for the following year were going to be bigger and better than 2012” and to do that “new recruits would need to be found for the team”.

He proclaimed that “New initiatives to raise funds had to be found, like Bag-packing, Race Nights and a Charity Football match”

"Finally", he said, “we need something local for "Oor kids" to get involved with too”.

Therefore, in October 2012, the planning and organising for “Kiltwalk 2013” began and in every one of those events, Mike was central to everything and the driving force to push the team further and just in case all the initiatives, activities, and events weren’t enough, Mike also announced he was going to participate in all five main Kiltwalks during 2013.

One of Mike’s great ideas and successes was the Dunfermilne "Wee Kilted Walk" that he created for local children, allowing them to do a shorter walk and raise funds for their teams. Schools, sports teams and youth clubs all registered. He even got The Lord Provost of Fife, Jim Leishman to start the event.

The event was a huge success with 150 people taking part on the day, despite the dreich weather. Well it is Scotland.

Behind the scenes Mike’s family were also being coerced, willingly I may add, into Kiltwalk activities.

His wife Isabel worked hard with Mike to contribute to the fundraising activities. Isabel and their eldest daughter Caitlin joined Mike on the Loch Lomond walk and the Kiltwalk bug was firmly established in their family.

As for the rest of the Dunfermilne Kiltwalkers, there was no letting up and no time to rest on their laurels or Mike would be on their case, in the nicest possible way.

Mikes vision and determination to be bigger and better and do more, meant that this year’s fundraising blew away their 2012 total.

So far, yes so far they’ve raised over £20,000 for the Kiltwalk charities, local youth clubs, sports clubs and schools. Funds were also raised for the Dunfermline football team in their hour of need, as well as their youth development programme.

It’s been a tremendous effort and one in which they are all truly proud of their achievements, and so they should be as their efforts are delivering real, tangible benefits.

You may remember I said earlier that last year the team were able to present Home-start with the largest single donation, they had ever received. Well this year Home-start will receive a cheque that not only dwarfs last years total, more importantly it will enable them to keep providing their services in the Dunfermilne area, for several years to come. That’s the power of The Kiltwalk, backed by the determination of Oor Kiltwalkers.

Mike’s inspiration, like many others, comes from the stories from our Kiltwalk families who have faced challenges and heartbreak no parent, or family, should have to face. He feels truly blessed to have three beautiful and healthy children and if all he has to offer these families is his time and commitment to raising as much as possible for The Kiltwalk and our partner charities, then he will do it.

With 2013 Kiltwalk’s coming to an end then where do the Dunfermilne Kiltwalkers go from here? Well, no surprise to know that next year’s target is substantially higher than this years with plans afoot to provide a play park for the disabled children in the local community.

That will take some serious fundraising. Undaunted by this Mike, unwavering in his pursuit of much needed donations, will again push the team to the limit. His family, well they are well and truly hooked. His children think he's the “bestest, strongest, kindest and cleverest daddy in the whole world” and are proud of everything he does for Scotland’s Children’s charities. As for Isabel? Well she thinks he is simply amazing!

From his colleagues in the Football Fans in Training group to the Dunfermline Kiltwalkers group he has now created, there is nothing but the utmost respect for Mike. They are all proud and privileged to have worked with him.

His drive, his determination and his focus has made this a highly effective group. Mike’s team spirit sees the challenges of others as a shared burden. He will not let anyone go through something alone or have them feel that they have hindered the progress of others in any way. Neither does he seek the limelight or attention, but instead is happy for others to take centre stage.

So let’s get back to the Aberdeen Kiltwalk, when I spoke to him outside the marque. I could see he was more than just “down in the dumps” so asked him what was wrong and to my astonishment he said,

“I just feel I’ve let people down”

My instant reaction was to laugh as surely who couldn’t be serious, but he was and here’s why.

As Mike was talking part in his fourth of our five Kiltwalks this year, he had to pull out after 16 miles, unable to continue any further.
He felt that people had sponsored him to walk every mile of every Kiltwalk and the mere fact he hadn’t completed the final ten miles, was eating away at him, so much so he refused to accept his Aberdeen Kiltwalk Medal.

He was punishing himself for what he saw as ‘failure’ to complete the 26 miles, because in his head, it was all about the miles.

So why did he withdraw? Did he have blisters on every part of his feet? Probably. Did his legs seize and refuse to carry him further? Wouldn't yours? Or was taking part in his second Kiltwalk in two weeks simply too much for him?

Well no, it was none of the above. You see Mike has Diabetes. Diabetes kills 24,000 people in the UK every year. People with Diabetes are at a huge risk of Kidney problems, eye problems, heart attacks, loss of toes and limbs due to nerve damage and infection. It’s serious stuff.

The reason Mike had to withdraw and therefore not complete the final ten miles was because his blood sugars got out of control, not a good thing to happen and was advised by the medical team to call it a day.

So the reason Mike felt he had let people down was due to a medical condition, and he still felt a failure!! Is he being serious? Yes he was.

Shortly after my conversation with Mike I had a chat with Fraser Coull and explained that Mike had mentioned that all the funds the Dunfermilne boys raise in their remaining walks, which by the way also includes a forest walk, is going to be donated to the Aila Coull Foundation and Fraser was taken aback at people's generosity.

I then told Fraser about Mike beating himself and not accepting his medal. Fraser gave me an incredulous look and simply said (look away Sine, look away Archie) “tell him to stop being a f***y and accept his medal. It’s about raising money for children’s charity, not how many miles you can walk. It’s not an Iron Man event”.

I took great delight in telling Mike this, and it might have been a break through moment as he laughed, and took his medal”.

So Kiltwalkers, next time you see Mike, take a moment to speak with him. Tell him that you know of his Kiltwalk journey. Tell him you know of his charity fundraising feats.

Then tell him whether you think he’s a failure, who has let people down. Or, tell him what a special person he is and that he’s one of life's good guys, without which the world would be a poorer place.

For me it's an easy answer. See you at the finish line on Sunday Mike.