Provost Gillian Renwick is set to raise funds for two great causes in the run-up to the Kirkintilloch Canal Festival when it returns this August.
Provost Renwick and Depute Provost Colette McDiarmid are undertaking five unique challenges throughout East Dunbartonshire, to raise awareness of the Canal Festival and to raise money for East Dunbartonshire Association for Mental Health (EDAMH) and Young Lives vs Cancer.
Provost Renwick said, “We are sailing the canal, hill-walking in the Campsies, cycling the John Muir Way and walking the canal towpath. We would also like the community to join us in swimming 25,000 lengths of our three local swimming pools as part of a community swimathon.”
The Community Swimathon will run from 1 – 25 August and those visiting the pools at the Allander, Leisuredrome and Kirkintilloch leisure centres will be able to pledge the lengths they are contributing at pledge sheets at the reception desks. Weekly totals will be shared with the final pool lengths achieved – and importantly, total funds raised – at the Canal Festival gala night on Saturday 26 August.
The Pentathlon activities are as follows:
- Community Swimathon (1-25 August)
A 25,000 length swimathon – calling on the community to contribute to the tally of lengths at the three local swimming pools. Weekly tally reported on social media - Steering the Boat (3 August)
The Provost will take to the tiller of a canal boat with the Seagull Trust, sailing from the Marina in Kirkintilloch to Hillhead Basin and back again - Campsie Hill Walk (10 August)
A 4.8km hill walk from Clachan of Campsie to Cort ma Law in the Campsie Hills - On yer Bike (16 August)
An 18km cycle ride from Mugdock Park to Strathblane and along the old railway track/John Muir Way to the Marina HQ in Kirkintilloch - Tow the Line (24 August
A 5.8 km tow-path walk along the Forth and Clyde Canal from the Leisuredrome in Bishopbriggs to Marina HQ – the heart of the Canal Festival Activity
We felt this was a fun way to raise awareness of the much-loved Canal Festival and raise essential funds for two important causes that the Depute Provost and I are very keen to support.
A Provost’s Canal Festival Pentathlon Just Giving page has been established and anyone wishing to sponsor the Provost and Depute Provost in their endeavours can head to the fundraising page to make their donation.
Provost Renwick added, “We felt this was a fun way to raise awareness of the much-loved Canal Festival and raise essential funds for two important causes that the Depute Provost and I are very keen to support. I look forward to hearing how our community swimathon pledges are progressing in the coming weeks and look forward to sharing the total funds we manage to raise at the Gala event on Saturday 26 August – wish us both luck in our challenges!”
