A CARING team of fundraisers are stepping forward to coin in cash for an East Renfrewshire charity by taking part in the Kiltwalk.

Their efforts will benefit SupERKids – a parent-led and volunteer-driven organisation which provides activities for local children with additional support needs.

Founded in 2011, SupERkids gives youngsters the chance to get involved in the likes of golf, tennis, yoga, rugby and archery.

It also runs the Glee drama group, as well as a music group called Wee Glee.

Those taking part in the Kiltwalk are East Renfrewshire Council workers Kirsten McCormick, Lesley Cowan, Lorna Stevenson, Danielle Major, Eilidh Stevenson, Siobhán Gaughan and Erica Craig.

The seven women are all part of the Inclusive Support department at East Renfrewshire Council and support staff at SupERkids, where they play a vital role in making sure children can attend independently of their parents and carers.

On April 30, one of the group will be doing the 14.3-mile Big Stroll, while the others will be taking on the 23-mile Mighty Stride.

Kirsten said: “We have worked for the council for a while. We work in partnership with SupERkids and have been able to see first-hand the benefit it has had.

“They come along and benefit from situations they wouldn’t get otherwise.

“They do a music club and a glee club and nowhere else could they be that level of included and it’s beautiful to see.

“The Kiltwalk is just for us a wee bit about showing support and hoping that they can continue the good work they are doing.

“It is so needed and I wish other authorities and places had the same thing.”

In taking on the Kiltwalk, the team is following in the footsteps of Barrhead parent Fiona McMillan, who raised about £1,700 for the charity by signing up for last year’s event.

SupERkids, which mainly runs its clubs and activities at Isobel Mair School, in Newton Mearns, also recently received £5,000 through the Humanitarian Fund, which is distributed via Voluntary Action East Renfrewshire.

Chairperson and parent Nicola Kelly told the Barrhead News: “A lot of the children we support can’t go to any activities without support for whatever needs they have, whether medical or otherwise, so we fundraise to put on clubs and we hire staff to support them when they are there to make sure they are safe and well looked after.

“We also bring in people to do the activities. Just now we are about to do a cooking club. We have a dance club, drama club and basketball club.”

Praising news of the group’s bid to take on the walking challenge, she added: “Some of the support staff that we bring in to look after the kids are doing the Kiltwalk for us. It’s so utterly kind of them. It’s just amazing because every bit of fundraising we get goes straight to putting on an activity for the kids.

“They are a fantastic bunch of ladies who give so much to supporting the kids and make all the difference to them attending and having fun at activities, including my own son Dominic.”

To donate, visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/superwalkers.