Kiltwalking to Change Attitudes and Change Lives

What a fantastic time the Tullochan team, made up of 4 staff and 5 friends and family members had when they took part in this year’s Glasgow Kiltwalk. This was the first time any of them had taken part in the Kiltwalk, so were all quite nervous when the big day arrived.

Their nerves weren’t fear of walking, but rather fear of not being able to complete the walk and therefore let down the young people who would benefit from their efforts in walking back to their home town of Balloch.

Tullochan, the largest youth charity in West Dunbartonshire, was founded in memory of Alistair Pearson, a local man who was, and still is one of the highest decorated soldiers in the British Army.

Tullochan has come a very long way since it was founded and with changes in projects, premises, staff and most importantly of all the young people and how, over the years that their needs have changed dramatically.

The young people Tullochan work to support, come from extremely challenging backgrounds and have been identified as being at high risk of reaching a negative destination either during, or after, completing main stream education.

Tullochan’s mission is a simple, yet increasingly necessary one and that's to help the young people of West Dunbartonshire lead a full and rewarding life, by providing continued support, encouragement and opportunities to enable them to develop and apply their individual qualities to best effect. So with the belief that every young person deserves the right to the support required to ensure they go on to lead full and positive lives, the Tullochan Kiltwalkers didn’t need to worry about nerves, as quite simply they’re drive and desire to help others would more than see them finish the 23 miles.

Tullochan, a new Charity name for The Kiltwalk, has helped change the lives of over 10,000 young people since its inception in 1996 and it’s a charity we’re delighted to be associated with through their efforts as a Team at this year’s Glasgow Kiltwalk.

With years of experience in the youth field work, June McDonald lives and breathes Tullochan. Over a period of 11 years she has gone from volunteer to Youth Worker, Project Co-ordinator, Senior Co-ordinator, Project Manager and is now General Manager of this wonderful charity.
We caught up with June after the event and she was still on an extreme high from taking part in The Kiltwalk and had the following to say.

“This was our first time taking part in such The Kiltwalk and it was just out of this world.

It was very humbling simply arriving at The Hydro and seeing thousands of people who had given up their own time to walk over 23 miles to raise money and awareness for other charities.

There was tartan everywhere you looked, from young children decked in tartan to some of the older generation who had back packs, Scottish flags and tartan scarves. There were smiling faces, painted faces and worried faces for whom the journey ahead must have seemed like climbing a mountain; you would never had known though, the spirit in the Hydro that morning was something that I have never experienced before in my life.

It was about good Scottish people looking out for other less fortunate Scottish people just because they care. It wasn’t about personal finishing times or who had done the most training or who had raised the most sponsorship, it was all about compassion and it totally blew us all away.

From the very first mile to the very last mile (yes we did all make it!), the 6,000 people who had got up extremely early on a Sunday morning became one, there was no competition we were all going to complete the Kiltwalk and not one of us doubted it, the nerves vanished and the blethering and bantering commenced. We spoke to people from all walks of life, many of whom had their own personal stories about their friends and families who, for one reason or another, relied on the support of Scottish Charities to ensure that their loved ones are cared for.

We walked and talked and encouraged people to keep going and we witnessed numerous occasions of kindness and compassion. Even when the blisters started to appear, and I can assure you they did, we witnessed people who were not dealt the best hand in life helping other people more physically capable than them, and it was these people who got us all over the finishing line in our home town of Balloch, because when we felt like we couldn’t walk on and were physically struggling (more practice might have been of benefit!) the sight of these brave selfless people carried thousands of good folk over a finish line that probably many of us would have never seen.

We were totally overwhelmed with the reception that we received when we finally reached Balloch and the young people of Tullochan, who had kindly volunteered their time that day to help with proceedings, cheering at the top of their voices, were just the icing on the cake for us!

We are now all very proud Kiltwalkers and we will be signing up to do it all again next year, there is something extremely addictive about the Kiltwalk and whatever it is you have the team at Tullochan hooked!”

I think it’s safe to say June and the Tullochan team loved their first Kiltwalk and simply re-reading her experience makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up as I know what the Kiltwalk means to seasoned Kiltwalkers, so to hear someone talk of their first experience and immediately getting the “Kiltwalk Spirit” is testament to all of Oor Kiltwalkers.

June mentioned that “It was about good Scottish people looking out for other less fortunate Scottish people just because they care” and she’s right. However let’s remember it’s the “people of Scotland” and that includes the many nationalities that live in our wonderful country and take part in Oor Kiltwalk. We’re proud to have you, one and all.

Since ’96 Tullochan have raised over £10million, however their work with young people is needed more than ever. All of this means they rely heavily on donations and support from individuals, companies, trusts and foundations to raise nearly £1million each year – just to maintain existing levels of work and support.

We look forward to hearing the magnificent total Team Tullochan raise and look forward to hearing about their work as they continue to go from strength to strength.

Keep doing what you’re doing and look forward to seeing you all again next year.