Scottish bus ladies raise £7,000 with 'Walk for Water'

Left to right: Marjory Rodger, Sarah Longair, Sandra Whitelaw and Kim Morrison

Left to right: Marjory Rodger, Sarah Longair, Sandra Whitelaw and Kim Morrison

Walkers prepare to climb Glas Tualaichean

Walkers prepare to climb Glas Tualaichean

New Transit managing editor Robert Jack

New Transit managing editor Robert Jack

A team of ladies from the Scottish bus industry has raised more than £7,000 for a rescue centre for girls in Kenya.

The four ladies and their friends climbed Glas Tualaichean, one of Scotland's 283 Munros, to raise money for Walk for Water on August 1. The ladies were recruited for this challenge by the Balcraig Foundation, which was founded in 1992 by Ann Gloag, co-founder of Scottish transport group Stagecoach.

By reaching the 1,051-metre summit, the walkers received sponsorship totaling £7,013. Donations came from individuals working in all corners of the passenger transport sector. Significant contributions were made by the Stagecoach Foundation, Wrightbus, Alexander Dennis and Volvo Truck and Bus.

The Balcraig Foundation supports the Soila Maasai Girls Rescue Centre in Kenya's Rift Valley, which provides support and education to 100 Maasai girls between the ages of 8 to 16 years old. However, the cost of providing water for the centre has soared because of the prolonged drought in Kenya. The money raised by the Walk for Water will ensure that the centre has enough water for the next 18 months.

The Balcraig Foundation's team of bus industry belles included Sarah Longair (operations director at Stagecoach East Scotland), Sandra Whitelaw (of family-owned bus and coach operator Whitelaws Coaches), Kim Morrison (who works for VOSA in Edinburgh) and Marjory Rodger, who retired from CPT Scotland last year after receiving an MBE for services to the bus industry.

They were joined by Brian Juffs, special bus development adviser at The Scottish Government, and Robert Jack, managing editor of New Transit magazine.

If you would like to offer your support visit www.justgiving.com/WalkforWater2010