Huntly's Marie Curie Daffy Danderers step out ready for the Aberdeen Kiltwalk
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A DOZEN walkers, ranging in age from 19 to 60 are set to get on their kilts and bright yellow t-shirts to join the Aberdeen Kiltwalk to raise money for Marie Curie.
The Daffy Danderers as the team is known, are all members or supporters of the Huntly Marie Curie Group. Nine have opted to walk 26 miles and three will do a shorter 16 mile trek on May 29.
The training schedule is gruelling as they follow a programme recommended by the Kiltwalk organisers.
To date, they have maxed out at 18 miles, pounding the tarmac and rough tracks which saw them leave Huntly follow the new walk to Greenmyres then back down through Drumblade on to Kinnoir and through the Mungo woods back to Huntly - in five hours.
Committee chairwoman, Debbie Morrison keeps the group of Lauren Petrie, Jackie Milne, Gwyneth Petrie, Wendy Taylor, Alisanne Ennis, Catherine Fry, Emma McGee, Debbie Morrison, Morag Smith, Sophie Gunn, Katie Melvin and Alan Smith motivated but told The Huntly Express that it is a huge commitment by all of them.
She said:"Everyone has jobs, families and other commitments so to get a decent number of training walks done really eats into family or free time.
"We don't all train together but also we try to ensure that no one is ever out walking on their own. It's easier now to do evening walks but people are giving up a day of their weekend which I really appreciate.
"We have all done walks or runs before but this is the biggest challenge for everyone in terms of distance."
The walk starts at Potarch and makes its way via the Old Deeside Railway to a grand finale in the Duthie Park in Aberdeen.
Walkers each have their own Just Giving pages which channels their sponsorship into a group fund and earlier this week the total stood at over £4000 - four times their target.
A huge incentive for the walkers is the fact that the Hunter Foundation will add 50 per cent of what they raise to the final total.
Debbie added: "This will our biggest fundraiser in the ten year history of the group and people are really driven by the top up from the Hunter Foundation.
To donate to the group go to the Just Giving web page and search Aberdeen Kilt walk 2022-Huntlymariecuriedaffydanderers
