Proclaimers sign up to lead fundraisers on walk for charity

Published on Friday 4 September 2009 09:44

THEY'VE sung about doing it, now Proclaimers twins Charlie and Craig Reid are about to have a crack at walking part of it – in a 500-mile charity trek.

The twins, famous for their 500 Miles anthem, will lead hundreds of fundraisers on a one-mile route around the heart of Edinburgh next month. By the end of it walkers will have notched up a total of 500 miles.

It's all intended to boost the 500 Miles charity which is named after the twins' biggest hit. The charity was set up by Edinburgh quadruple amputee Olivia Giles to provide prosthetic limbs and support for some of Africa's poorest patients.

The event, Miles for Smiles, is expected to see hundreds of walkers cover a one-mile route around the Festival Square area, joined by celebrities from sport, radio and entertainment.

The Reids, aged 44, will take part and then perform at the event's fundraising ball, squeezing it all in between ending their US tour later this month and starting their UK one.

"It's tough finding the time to do things like this," admits Charlie. "But this is a cause that is so worthwhile. We know how much work Olivia has done over the years for charity, and we're honoured that her charity's name makes reference to our song."

The event is the brainchild of the former lawyer, whose hands and feet were amputated in February 2002 after she contracted meningitis.

Miss Giles was working as a senior partner at Edinburgh law firm Maclay, Murray & Spens when what she thought was straightforward flu turned out to be life-threatening meningococcal septicaemia. She spent four weeks in a coma and a further eight months in hospital recovering.

Miss Giles went on to hold several events to raise awareness of meningitis before launching her 500 Miles charity in 2007 with fellow Edinburgh quadruple amputee Jamie Andrew. His hands and feet were amputated after he suffered frostbite during a climbing accident in the Mont Blanc range.

The charity now runs a series of projects including a prosthetic limbs workshop in Zaire and Flyspec, an air service which delivers vital orthopaedic and reconstructive surgery, and a prosthetic and orthotic service to patients in Zambia and Malawi.

"It costs just 60 to buy a prosthetic leg which can dramatically change someone's life," said Miss Giles. "Even if people taking part collect just 15 each, it will make a phenomenal difference.

"To be disabled in Africa is a complete disaster because not only is there severe discrimination but if you want to get from A to B you have to rely on someone physically carrying you."

She is asking walkers to cover their mile in the wackiest way possible – a team from Centotre Italian restaurant are taking part while tossing pizza dough.

"There's going to be a fantastic atmosphere on the day – there'll be music and entertainment along the route. So it would be great if people taking part entered in spirit by thinking up fantastic ways of covering their mile."