The Proclaimers Walk 500 Miles For Charity

Some of Sctoland’s best known celebrities – including author Ian Rankin and The Proclaimers – took part in a charity walk during the weekend.

The author and the iconic singers – brothers Criag and Charlie Reid – took part in the “500 Miles” walk to raise money for disabled people in Malawi and Zambia. Inspired by The Proclaimers’ song of the same name, the walk was organized by Olivia Giles, a former lawyer who had her hands and feet amputated due to meningitis. Each of the 500 walkers that took part walked a mile, with proceeds going to buy artificial limbs for people in Africa through an organization founded by Giles.

“This is about celebrating our mobility and using it to help people who do not have a national health service to support them if they lose theirs,” she said.

Others who took part included chef Nick Nairn, former Scotland goalkeeper Alan Rough, BBC presenter Fred Macaulay, Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, Scottish Finance Secretary John Swinney and Jack McConnell, the former first minister.

The event started from the Edinburgh International Conference Centre and traveled a mile around the capital’s Festival Square.