A community champion is hoping people will get behind him as he takes on the final part of his biggest challenge yet.
Anwar Rafiq turned to walking to boost his health several years ago and has not looked back since.
He now has a number of Kiltwalks under his belt and has raised thousands of pounds for good causes.
In April he completed the first of four Kiltwalks this year, Glasgow’s Mighty Stride, coining in about £1,100 for Barrhead charity Include Me 2 Club (IM2C).
Since then he has completed both Aberdeen and Dundee Kiltwalks to raise funds for Neilston Players’ Santa sleigh refurbishment project, which he decided to support after seeing a social media post.
On September 17 for the same cause, he will take on the 21-mile Edinburgh version, which finishes in the shadow of the capital’s Murrayfield Stadium.
The dad-of-two from Neilston said: “I felt fit enough to complete the remainder of the Kiltwalks in aid of the Neilston Players.
“I take pride in supporting local charities and I am committed to supporting my village for a great cause.
“Anything I raise will go directly to the charity and I will get any gift aid back too so any amount great and small will be greatly appreciated.”
Raising funds has become slightly harder this year, Anwar says, as the Kiltwalk’s fundraising model has changed and Sir Tom Hunter is no longer topping up the cash raised, although those taking part will get back all eligible gift aid.
The fittingly named Tartan Coo bar and restaurant in Mount Florida has been sponsoring Anwar during the last couple of Kiltwalks.
He completed the 23-mile Glasgow Kiltwalk in five hours and 44 minutes and the 18-mile Aberdeen Kiltwalk in four hours and 14 minutes.
Most recently he took on the taxing route of the tough Dundee Kiltwalk, which he described as his “worst nightmare” last year.
Determined to beat his previous time of seven and a half hours, he pushed through the pain barrier in the final stretch to smash his aim of completing the challenge in under six hours.
“I got cramp in both calves and blisters but apart from that I finished it in good time,” he said. “I did Dundee in about five hours and six minutes.”
In addition to his Kiltwalk endeavours, Anwar also leads IM2C’s walking group in Neilston.
The Well Walks meet at the Bank Café on Thursday evenings at 7pm and usually last about two hours.
“I am still doing the walk group as well,” he explained. “This has changed from the afternoons to the evenings as I changed jobs.
"We have a lot of people coming to it and are averaging about 12 people a week.”
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