"Wheresoever you go, go with all your heart." ~Kongzi

Joanne Docherty is from Glasgow and here she shares her very moving account about how she got involved in The Kiltwalk and decided to donate 50% of her fundraising to SIMBA. Joanne is not just doing one Kiltwalk, but 5 PLUS a Kiltwalk in MachuPicchu in Peru! 

Joanne on one of her 2013 Kiltwalks

“I first got involved with the Kiltwalk in 2013, raising funds in aid of Yorkhill Hospital as they became a charity partner of the Kiltwalk. I did the Glasgow 26 miles from Hampden to Loch Lomand, and in April and May I took part in the Edinburgh ones, leaving from Murrayfield, through the city, past Parliament and back to Murrayfiled.

Then I heard of a wee girl called Aine, a beautiful wee girl that needed our help. That's where my great friend and support Emma comes in. She was so kind and signed up to do THREE whole Kiltwalks (26 miles each one) all in one month in 2013. All together thousands were raised and I couldn't have been prouder.

For 2014 we have upped our challenges to attempt to get more money. Now there is a whole team of us, all working hard to promote SiMBA and raise funds on the Kiltwalks, with 50% of what we raise going to SiMBA. This year I will be doing 5 Kiltwalks and the September Machu Picchu Kiltwalk in Peru and Emma is planning 4 Kiltwalks and Machu Picchu! The rest of the team are doing a minimum of one 26 mile Kiltwalk each.

I have a personal reason for choosing to do these challenges for SiMBA. When I was 12 my baby brother David passed away at just 4 weeks old. He had a hole in his heart and though he came through that fighting hard sadly his wee heart valves were round the wrong way. Sadly at that time there were no charities like SiMBA which makes us work especially hard to do as much as is physically possible to help. I think about him every single day and my wee brother is my motivation and inspiration always. After we lost him I promised I would help families and children from then on.

This is going to be an extraordinary chance of a life time to help an amazing charity and honour our angels in the sky. I have asthma, and have been hospitalised a few times with it, so I’m hoping I don’t get carted off by mule in Peru! And I’m not too fussed about snakes, but I can't wait! 

SiMBA is an amazing cause for such brave people.”

You can sponsor Joanne and the Team HERE