Join James on a Kiltwalk this Burns Night
Happy Burns Night!
And a big thank you to the record nine walkers from our community north of the border, who’ve signed up for a Kiltwalk to raise funds for CLAPA this year.
One of them is James, a senior practitioner at a residential children’s home, who is currently preparing for the 14-mile ‘Big Stroll’ in Glasgow on April 26.
He said: “This is my first ever Kiltwalk. I’ve wanted to do one for a while, and to give something back to CLAPA – you’ve been amazing support for me and my wife Laura with our daughter Helena, who was born with a unilateral cleft lip and palate.
“I’ve got myself out walking a lot more to try to get fit for April. It’s hard after Christmas, but I’m getting there.”
“I’ve got myself out walking a lot more to try to get fit for April. It’s hard after Christmas, but I’m getting there.”
With a combination of ‘Big Strolls’, ‘Mighty Strides’ and ‘Wee Wanders’, Kiltwalk has raised £49.6 million for charities since the walks were reintroduced in Glasgow nine years ago. Walkers can choose their distance, from three to 23 miles, and walk in kilts or tartan print. This year there are Kiltwalks in Glasgow, Edinburgh. Aberdeen and Dundee.
James added: “The longest I’ve walked before is probably about 10 miles. During lockdown, when we were allowed out, I did a lot of hillwalking around some of the beautiful parts of Scotland.
“The last couple of years, getting married and having two kids, I’ve not had time to do as much but am starting to train now. I’m trying to do at least a mile a day at the moment, and in February will start doing two miles, and keep increasing it.
“I’m looking at it as a beautiful walk – 14 miles is a long way, but it’s important. I’m doing it for Helena and other special babies out there born with a cleft.”
“I’m looking at it as a beautiful walk – 14 miles is a long way, but it’s important. I’m doing it for Helena and other special babies out there born with a cleft.”
CLAPA is a cause so close to James’ heart he has our logo tattooed on his arm, next to an ink drawing of his daughter.
“I was looking at things I could put next to Helena’s face and thought CLAPA would be perfect because, although Helena’s face has changed, she was always born with a cleft lip and palate – and it’s important to remember what she went through.
“I love people asking me what’s on my arm, as then I get to tell them what CLAPA is and how wonderful you all are. There are so many other special kids and babies, and their families, going through what we went through. It’s great to raise awareness for everyone.
“Helena’s just turned two now, and her speech is amazing. She’s eating well and, despite everything she’s gone through, you couldn’t tell she was born with a cleft lip and palate.”
James and Laura found out about Helena’s cleft at their 20-week scan. The Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow NHS Cleft Team put them in touch with CLAPA.
“We were so scared at first but the Cleft Team and CLAPA were brilliant support.”
“We were so scared at first but the Cleft Team and CLAPA were brilliant support. We knew nothing about cleft before and then, from researching it through CLAPA, we became overnight experts.”
Before Helena’s first surgery, the NHS Cleft Team invited James and Laura to pilot a new augmented reality app, which showed the procedure in 3D.
The couple’s reactions to the images on the new app were filmed by BBC Scotland.
“We were very honoured to do it. It was amazing and helpful to see the images and what was going to happen. But it was very emotional – I 
was there with Helena just six months old on my lap, looking at the images of surgery, and feeling a bit nervous of the BBC cameras. Laura was a trooper, just sitting there being interviewed, and then they asked me a question, and I just broke down and started crying.
“I was never an overly emotional guy until I met Laura, and started having kids, and now everything makes me cry. I cried like a baby on our wedding day, I was so happy, and a couple of years ago I found myself crying at an emotional John Lewis advert.
“Having a family is the best thing ever, it’s really made me appreciate the important things in life.”
If you’re in Scotland and would like to join James and the others in raising money for CLAPA at one of the Kiltwalks visit www.thekiltwalk.co.uk
Thank you James
Thank you to James for fundraising and sharing his story.
