A GROUP of exceptionally kind-hearted Kiltwalkers are at the halfway point of an incredible 100 mile charity challenge.

While more than 16,000 heroes will tackle one Kiltwalk this year, 11 brave Scots have gone a step further by taking on the biggest challenge of all – walking the marathon Mighty Stride of more than 20 miles at all four Kiltwalks in 2018.

It’s all to raise money and awareness for charity, with seven walkers marching for cancer charity It’s Good 2 Give, one raising funds for Scottish Fire & Rescue Service Family Support Trust, and three representing Gold sponsor Johnston Carmichael, who will walk for Calum’s Cabin. All money raised will receive a 40 per cent boost, thanks to the support from the Hunter Foundation and funds raised from the recent Michelle Obama Dinner.

At the end of April, this small band joined 10,157 others in the world’s biggest ever Kiltwalk from Glasgow to Loch Lomond. Last month, the north east was a sea of tartan as 2,300 walkers took part in the 26 mile Aberdeen walk from Potarch to Duthie Park.

Up next is the Mighty Stride from the 18th fairway at the home of golf in St Andrews to Monifieth for the Dundee Kiltwalk on August 19 and the final leg from Holyrood Park to BT Murrayfield in the Edinburgh Kiltwalk on September 16.

Jillian Stewart, a business solutions assistant at Johnston Carmichael from Paisley, said: “This is my third year taking on the Kiltwalk and it was time to set myself a new challenge. It won’t be easy, but being able to say I walked 100 miles in all four of the events will fill me with such a sense of pride and accomplishment.

“This year, I am raising funds for Calum’s Cabin, a holiday retreat on the Isle of Bute which does incredible work for children and families of children suffering with cancer. My personal target is to raise £500 to add to the £5,000 already raised for the charity by Johnston Carmichael staff.”

Paisley-based Craig McFie, walking for Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Family Support Trust, said: “As a firefighter myself, I’ve seen first-hand how important it is that retired fire service personnel and their families are given support in times of need.

“I initially wanted to do three walks for the three regions Scotland’s Fire and Rescue Service is split up into. If I was going to take on three, I may as well do the whole lot.”

To sign up for the two remaining Royal Bank of Scotland Kiltwalks this year, visit thekiltwalk.co.uk