MOD 2008 SPONSORED WALKERS LIMBERING UP!

TWELVE walkers will be setting off on Saturday to cover the 104 miles from Fort William, scene of last year's Royal National Mod, to Falkirk, which hosts this year's event.
But as well as getting sore feet, these walkers may also have a few sore heads to contend with ... as they will be getting into the spirit of the walk with ceildhs and music along the way.
They have been promised a good send-off from Fort William and everyone is welcome to join them at a Drover's Ceilidh on Friday night (September 12).
The ceilidh dance will be held at the Nevis Centre at 7.30 p.m.
Fear an Tighe is John A MacIver and music is provided by the Hector MacFadyen Band, while guest artists are Mary MacMillan, Davie MacKenzie, Erin McHale and the Lochaber Fiddlers.
Admission is £8 and to really get in the spirit of the walk - which is following in the footsteps of the cattle drovers who travelled from their homes in the Highlands to sell their cattle in Falkirk - people are being asked to come dressed as drovers.

However, if you can't make the send-off, don't worry. You can also catch the walkers as they make their way to Falkirk at the following venues:
Clachaig Inn, Glencoe, for live music on Sat 13th
Tail Race Inn, Kinlochleven, on Sun 14th
Paddy's Bar and Grill Tyndrum on Mon 15th
Drovers Inn, Inverarnan, on Tues 16th
Rowardennan Hotel, on Wed 17th
Fintry Inn, Fintry, for live music on Thursday 18th

A word of warning - these guys are very persuasive fundraisers, so do take your wallets and purses with you. Otherwise they'll just make you sign an IOU.

On Friday, September 19, the walkers will be met at 1 p.m. by groups of local schoolchildren and they will all walk to the Steeple in Falkirk High Street together.

The brave souls who are walking are: Provost Pat Reid and John Craig, from Falkirk; Alan Rankine, Ian Macleod (Sgadan from the park bar) and George Logan, from Cumbernauld; Linda Sim, from Dennyloanhead; Paul Henderson, from Denny; Dr Gonzalo Mazzei, from Comrie; Olivia Dewar, from Bo'ness; Jackie Morrison, from Dunfermline; Mhari Ann Napper, from Kilwinning; and Derek Martin, from Glasgow. Support driver will be the Mod Convener himself Angus MacDonald

The walkers are all eagerly looking forward to starting their walk on Saturday 13th September, when the Provost of Fort William and a piper will give them a big send off.

Good luck to all of them.