Day 4 – A day filled with special moments.
The walking is just one element to Bob’s Walk. Sure, it’s a big part – the ‘boots on the ground’ bit – but the real heart of the fundraiser for Maggie’s Fife lies in the support from so many people. Today was a special day.
Some snapshots to hopefully illustrate what I mean.
In East Wemyss, we spotted an ice cream van. The purchase of a single cone led to a £10 donation.
In Kirkcaldy, we stopped at Morrisons to thank them for their generous support – core walker Lorna’s approach led them to donating raffle proceeds to the walk. One call later and the store offered to provide food for our celebratory finish at Maggie’s Dundee this coming Sunday.
At Maggie’s there was the most stunning cake taking pride of place on the large kitchen table. It was made by Margaret McKendrick, a former patient of Dr Bob – and she was there to meet him and the rest of the walkers. It too will be taken to Dundee for the big finale. You can see pictures of it at www.facebook.com/fifefreepress or check out Maggie’s Fife page.
We also welcomed more guests today then ever before – making this the single biggest walking team yet.
We were joined by the RBS who have been great supporters of Maggie’s Fife. Their team of RBS East managers and staff from branches across Fife walked from Kinghorn to the centre and on to the finish line, and it was a joy to welcome them.
We were joined too by some welcome faces from the 2013 walk, plus Kevin Ritchie from Kirkcaldy who had read our nightly blogs and decided to come along. Cath Ruane, my other half, made her walk debut too.
All the new walkers added to the spirit of the event, stretching it out too into several groups all going at different paces.
We set off from Kinghorn War Memorial bang on time and quickly got into our stride. The journey to Kirkcaldy zipped past in barely 45 minutes, but there was still time to stop and spot some wonderful wildlife; a couple of herons standing majestically on the rocks, a hawk sitting guard on the branch of a tree, and the seals all relaxing on the rocks near Seafield.
We stopped at Morrisons for a photo-call – you can see the pictures in this week’s Fife Free Press – before turning down on to the Prom and along the waterfront to the harbour before preparing for the ascent of Dunnikier Road.
Lunch was at Maggie’s Centre where we had a lovely welcome, and some great food organised by 2013 Bob’s Walker, Janice Allen, and a chance to relax.
Fed and watered, we donned hi-viz jackets and headed towards the Wemyss. Previously we went via Ravenscraig Park and Dysart and along the coast, but today’s route took us up to the top of the town and along past Dunnikier Park and Asda to Windmill Road.
Huge thanks to all the motorists who stopped to allow our groups of walkers cross in safety – perhaps the young lad in the black car who scowled and shook his head at their courtesy lest it delay him by, oh, all of five seconds as he headed into town at the top of Rosslyn Street, might wish to atone by texting DOCB99 £5 to 70070 – do that son and we’ll return the five seconds of your life we inadvertently intruded into. Oh, I digress …!
We skirted round to Randolph, and then down to the Boreland farm track which allowed us to look down on the winding gear at Frances and across the still calm Forth. The river has barely managed a ripple let alone a single wave from our time on the path since Inverkeithing …
The single track path to Wemyss was noisy, but the upside was a chance to turn into the Wemyss Estate and down to West Wemyss, via the allotments being developed behind the village.
After a short break it was on to the coastal path and up those killer giant wooden steps into Buckhaven to our finishing point, some 13.5 miles from Kinghorn.
It was a fantastic day’s walking – one in which we met many lovely people, all interested in, and keen to support the work of, Maggie’s Fife.
We’ve reached the half way point in our trek – some 50-miles plus already covered from Falkirk to Linlithgow, to South Queensferry, across the Forth Bridge, and into the Kingdom, following the wonderful coastal path round to Buckhaven.
Tomorrow (Wednesday), we have an easier schedule – just 11.5 miles from Buckhaven to Earlsferry with the prospect of a barbecue on the beach at Lower Largo thanks to Maggie’s Fife board member Mairead.
Again, it’s one of those gestures which make this walk so special.
And when you have that support behind you the actual walking – the miles and miles on roads and paths, through fields and along beaches, the blisters and tired legs – is so much easier and rewarding.
You can do what Kevin did and simply join us and enjoy the sheer beauty of Fife’s coastline while supporting an incredible cause. All you have to do is turn up just down from the Buck & Hynd pub in Buckhaven for a 9.30 a.m. start prompt – Bob and Bert, our route planner, run a tight timetable!
You can also do what Kevin did and prompt your friends on social media to think about taking part as well as donating.
And if you can’t make the walk then let your fingers do the walking on social media.
We’re tweeting live using the hashtag #bobswalk on Twitter and posting pictures on Facebook at the pages run by Bob’s Walk and Maggie’s Fife.
Please share them as widely as possible and encourage your friends to do likewise – every penny raised through every single donation goes directly to Maggie’s Fife.
And every offer of support makes the event even more special …
Bob’s Walk is sponsored by event partners Mackays Marmalade, route partner FMC Technologies, plus ACA Sports, Shadow Blinds and Dundee & Fife Chiropractic Clinics.
Huge thanks to O’Connell’s, Kirkcaldy, and Morrisons’ Invertiel store for their generous donations.
Bob’s Walk 2015 for Maggie’s Centre takes place from 13th to 21st June
You can donate online at www.justgiving.com/bobswalk2015
You can also donate by text message.
To donate £5 just text DOCB99 £5 to 70070
To donate £10 just text DOCB99 £10 to 70070
