Picture: Eric Cormack. Image No.043360
THE route may be a bit different, but the challenge and charm of the Buckie Rotary Six Harbour Walk is set to return after a year out. The charity fund-raising event relaunched in style at Buckie Thistle’s Ace Winches lounge, with May 5 unveiled as the date to mark in the diary. Landslips along the section of the route between Sandend and Cullen saw the organisers forced to cancel the 2018 walk. A further, tragic double blow was dealt to the group when its convener, Bill Greig, passed away suddenly last February while stalwart committee member Charles McKay died in March of 2018. Now under the leadership of Heather Pirie and Andrew Murray, the spotlight is once again on raising money for good causes. Mrs Pirie said: “We’re delighted to be relaunching the Six Harbour Walk. “We’ve been working closely with Seafield Estates to find ways around the landslips which caused us to cancel last year’s events. Portsoy to Sandend is the same but between there and Cullen we’ve had to change the route, going through the estate’s land. We’re very grateful to them for helping us out. “Once walkers get to Cullen they’ll follow the same route as before onward through Portknockie and Findochty to Buckie.
“Another change will see the registration and the finish line at the South and West Church hall in Buckie. “We’re also grateful to Walkers of Aberlour for supplying the shortbread to go with tea for those completing the walk and to the Buckie BBs for offering to help here. Overall, though, we’ve tried not to change too much.” For the fist time walkers will be able to register online at www.sixharbourwalk.org later this month, with further updates available on the event’s Facebook page. Mrs Pirie went on to pay tribute to Mr Greig and Mr McKay, describing their loss as a “huge blow” to the organisation. She added: “The team are really raring to go. “We’re all very aware how much it meant to Bill and Charles and we are determined that the walk will live on.” Set to benefit from this year’s walk are the Rotary’s own Shelter Box scheme, Sue Ryder hospice and the Clan cancer support organisation in Elgin. Shelter Box provides tents and practical equipment in disaster zones while Sue Ryder cares for people with incurable illnesses. Clan provides support for those affected by cancer. Groups of four or more participating in the walk will have the option of splitting their sponsor money equally with the rotary charities and their own good causes.