Philanthropist Sir Tom Hunter has shocked and delighted charity leaders after announcing his 40% bonus on all Kiltwalk fundraising is increasing to a massive 50%.
This means every £1 raised becomes £1.50 with every penny going to the charities chosen by the walkers.
In 2019, 1,302 charities received £5 million-plus The Hunter Foundation’s £2 million 40% top-up; a total of £7 million raised by 25,417 heroes.
Sir Tom revealed the increased top-up at a special event held in Glasgow to get the 2020 Kiltwalk officially underway. Charities in the 200 strong audience at Arnold Clark’s GTG were treated to a surprise performance from the Red Hot Chilli Pipers, who burst on stage with a rendition of Wake Me Up & Don’t Stop Believing. The stunned audience could hardly believe it when Sir Tom announced the 50% bonus for 2020 which should see fundraising rocket by an extra half a million pounds plus.
Corrine Hutton from the charity, Finding Your Feet with Sir Tom Hunter at Kiltlwalk Glasgow Platform EventMoments after announcing the 50% bonus for all walkers, Sir Tom said:
“Kiltwalk is the lowest cost platform in Scotland for charity fundraisers to walk for what they care about. We hope our 50% top-up will help them along the way.
“I’d like to thank each and every person who takes part in our Kiltwalk events. We’ve seen just what impact it can have; from a young walker in Dundee raising £5 for the Sea Cadets to the biggest charities raising hundreds of thousands of pounds. Everyone is making a big difference all over Scotland, so we’ve decided to ‘up the ante’ and boost their fundraising with a 50% top-up.
“Thank you for caring, it’s what Kiltwalk and The Hunter Foundation is all about. Kiltwalkers, you have your marching orders!”
Also inspiring the delegates was Corinne Hutton, a quadruple amputee who was the first Scot to ever undergo a double hand transplant and is the founder of Finding Your Feet, a charity that supports those affected by amputation. Seventy-five walkers took part in last year’s Glasgow Kiltwalk in support of Corinne and raised over £13,000 for the charity in the process. She will be taking on the challenge herself in Glasgow later this year.
With just three months to go until the first event of 2020, there is no better time to sign up and join thousands of others in what’s expected to be Glasgow’s biggest ever Kiltwalk.
Sir Tom and Corinne were joined by headline sponsors Royal Bank of Scotland and Arnold Clark, who confirmed their support in 2020 with Arnold Clark announcing they’ll be giving away brand-new Hyundai i20’s to lucky walkers across this year’s events.
Kiltwalk will take place on:
26 April in Glasgow
07 June in Aberdeen
16 August in Dundee
13 September in Edinburgh
To find out more or to sign up, visit https://www.thekiltwalk.co.uk/