Our Kiltwalk Journey for It’s Good 2 Give By Judith Paterson
Balanced Edinburgh is a large healthcare provider based in Stockbridge and Barnton. They decided to take part in the Edinburgh Kiltwalk this year to raise money for our charity.
Their Kiltwalk team, lead by the company's director and senior physiotherapist Judith Paterson included physios, pilates instructors, massage therapists, three clients and the daughter of one of their team.
Here’s Judith to tell us about their walk and why the choose to support It’s good 2 give.
Why It’s good 2 give!?
This Scottish charity is one we are hugely proud to know and support, The do fantastic work offering practical and psychological support to children with cancer and their families. This support comes in many forms through ward based services such as the famous snack trolley and a chance for well needed relaxation with massage treatments for parents.
It’a good 2 give also help fund two Psychologists who help support children through the incredibly tough treatment times and provide stays at the beautiful and tranquil Ripple Retreat in Callander. This is a place for families to enjoy a peaceful break away from the stresses and strains of hospital appointments and day to day life.
The It’s good 2 give team remind us of our own team at Balanced where every one of us is striving to provide the best service possible to the people we support and ensure they get as much as possible out of their lives despite the situation they find themselves in.
Why the Kiltwalk?
As a team of relatively fit individuals we definitely wanted a physical challenge, but one that wouldn’t be so demanding that we required our own services afterwards! Also fundraising for the Kiltwalk is incredibly motivating when you know that your efforts will be topped up by 50%.
It’s an exceptionally well organised event and the pit stops every 3-4 miles make the distance feel so much more manageable. We opted for the full marathon length but there are distances to suit all levels of fitness.
How Did We Train?
We all had a base line fitness from dog walking, running or just the fact that we are all on our feet most of the day. Training together really helped our team to reform after feeling somewhat disjointed through COVID times. Working together with a common goal while doing exercise is a great stress buster and we all got to really know each other really well during long chats as we walked.
However, better to do as we say not as we do because although we did a few training walks we never walked more than 12 miles until the day. Despite this our team felt pretty good during and after the walk so those Pilates classes and massages pre event definitely paid off!
How Did We Do On The Day?
Well, all 12 of us made it round in great time (not that we were racing of course). One or two applications of compeed were required along with a few anti-inflammatories and some tiger balm but we crossed that finished line together. On the other side we were delighted to have Lynne and a group of volunteers from It’s Good 2 Give welcome us with cheers, flags and Elaine’s legendary tablet- how good was that sugar rush!
Even more exciting for us was to see one of our wheelchair using clients self-propelling himself round the full route, also in aid of the same charity. Now that is an achievement worth applauding.
Would we do it again- absolutely!!!!
And the BEST news…………. with the help of our amazing patients and clients at Balanced, we raised almost £13,500 coming 9th place on the team fundraising leader board.
What an amazing effort by the whole Balanced Edinburgh team. We would like to thank them all very much for their support. It means the world.
