Leish Walks on for Mary

Jim Leishman set out on an 81 mile-trek on Wednesday to try and help raise £100,000 in memory of his late wife Mary.

PICTURES FROM THE TAY BRIDGE START
Jim Leishman set out on an 81 mile-trek from the Tay Bridge to the Forth Bridge at 9.00am on Wednesday to try and help raise £100,000 in memory of his late wife Mary.

STV COVERAGE
The slimmed-down Pars legend was joined by friends, family and stars from the football and entertainment world as he started his walk at the Tay Bridge. The Big Man had a quiet couple of days following his last training walk on Sunday with his dogs.

Jim wrote on his blog:- 

"Was a bit of a struggle this week thanks to the generosity of the boys from PJ Molloys who looked after us when we were in for a couple of drinks on Saturday night though. Willie and the boys did themselves proud, along with Stevie and the rest of Shamanic who helped raise £2,500 which was amazing.

"Apologies to everyone who was in there on Saturday expecting to see their bands perform, but who also got the bonus of me singing along to Big Country's Chance. I've heard of having to sing for your supper, but this was the real thing! Thanks again to everyone who donated at PJs over the past few weeks, it's a fantastic total and one that will make a real difference to a good cause in the area.

"Hopefully everyone who is doing the walk is in fine shape, I'm pleased that I'm able to take part and will be looking to keep up with the pace from Wednesday onwards. The radio and papers will be dropping by to see how we're getting on along the route, and it would be great to see folk cheering us along as we make our way down to the Forth Bridge.

"Everybody has been really supportive of the walk and the fund raising goals so far, and if that can continue over the coming week then we'll be well on the way to reaching some huge targets which will make real difference to many organisations and good causes."

Jim admitted the charity and the walk had given him something to focus on after the untimely death of his wife on their 30th wedding anniversary in February.

"I've worked hard and lost two stone so it's been great for me," he said.

"I've been up at half six or so every morning and been away for a stride so I've been getting on with things. We're hoping to have over £60,000 by the end of June and overall we're trying to get £100,000 to distribute in Fife and the surrounding area."

The five day walk includes stops at St Andrews, Crail, Lower Largo, Pettycur Bay and then on Sunday 21st June, it's the finishing post at the Forth Bridge. There is also entertainment along the way with a handful of tickets left for the events.

On Thursday 18th June there's a karaoke evening in the Elie and Earlsferry village hall, the following night in Aberdour Institute there's a sportsman's dinner with top after dinner speakers, Saturday 20th June is a rock 'n roll night at Pettycur Bay Caravan Park and it finishes on the Sunday at Legends, East End Park.

The Mary Leishman Foundation