A family from Erskine were due to complete their 10th Kiltwalk in memory of their son this month – but they have been unable to reach the milestone thanks to the coronavrius outbreak.
The walk was supposed to go ahead on April 26, but it has been cancelled amid the ongoing crisis. It was supposed to be especially poignant for the Moirs, as their son Aidan – who sadly passed away in 2012 – would have turned 18 in May.
Team Aidan’s spirit has not been dampened, however. Claire and Paul Moir, their children Connor and Rebekah, and other family members and friends, are determined to complete the walk this year – just as soon as it’s safe to do so.
The Kiltwalk will be Paul’s tenth event, Connor will turn 21 and Rebekah will become a teenager, making this year one of milestones for the Moirs.
Paul began his first Kiltwalk in 2010 to raise funds for Robin House in Balloch, where Aidan received vital care from the age of five.
Aidan suffered from Late Infantile Batten’s Disease – a degenerative neurological condition which slowly took away his ability to walk, talk, see, eat or hold himself up.
He sadly passed away aged just 10. During his short life, he touched the hearts of many and family members and friends offered their support to the Moirs by joining in the Kiltwalk and helping them to continue raising funds for Robin House and Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS).
Team Aidan have now raised more than £22,000 for CHAS.
In a bid to raise further funds and to mark the Moir family’s milestones, a charity night had been arranged but that too has been postponed for the time being.
Claire said: “The Kiltwalk may have been postponed but we as a family are still determined to complete it one way or another as this is such an important year for us. We also want to do it in memory of Aidan and also for CHAS as Robin House was there for us every step of the way and helped us make so many amazing memories.
“Every year on the walk we have Team Aidan t-shirts with his face on them so he really is with us every step of the way and we always see his cheeky wee smile. And if any of us are struggling to carry on the walk, we just look at his face and think Aidan went through so much in his short life so we can do this for him and we always finish it.
“As for the party, Team Aidan are all looking forward to having a big one when the coronavirus is all behind us – I think we will all be ready for one by then!”
Team Aidan have already collectively raised £1,500 this year, which means £3,000 for CHAS following Sir Tom Hunter’s generous announcement that the Hunter Foundation will top up all funds raised by 100 per cent.
CHAS Challenge Events Assistant, Charlie Leavy, said: “We are so grateful to Claire and all of Team Aidan for helping to raise so many funds over the years and it is heartening to hear they still intend to complete the walk for CHAS in Aidan’s memory later this year.
“All the money raised through sponsorship and donations for CHAS through the Kiltwalk will help support families across Scotland by providing vital care and invaluable experiences to help keep the joy alive for many children with life shortening illnesses and their families across Scotland.”
For updates on all Kiltwalk events visit www.thekiltwalk.co.uk.
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