PICTURES: Dingwall-based Connecting Carers' awareness-raiser goes the extra mile across Highlands with efforts to highlight unseen heroes hailed by Strathpeffer-based MSP Maree Todd
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A CHARITY’S campaign to highlight the work unpaid carers do in the community has been hailed by a Scottish Government health minister after it reached five times the target and came close to breaking a walking record set in 2017 – despite still being under Covid-19 restrictions.
Connecting Carers and Connecting Young Carers ran a region-wide poster and social media campaign as well as a Walk 500 – where participants were asked to walk a manageable distance during Carers Week 2021 and log it in steps on the organisation’s website in a bid to reach a total of 500 miles.
After all the steps were added up, the charity found that a massive 2524 miles had been covered, with the previous record being 2591 miles.
Maree Todd, minister for public health, women’s health and sport, who walked 25 miles as part of the Dingwall-based charity’s initiative to help celebrate Carers Week – which took place between June 7-13 – said: “I’m delighted to hear of the success of Connecting Carers ‘Walk 500’, where the total distance recorded exceeded the target mileage five times over.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity to do my bit to honour the fantastic carers we have across the Highlands and in doing so, supporting Connecting Carers in their aim to make the role of carers more visible.
“We’ll forever be indebted to our carers, who have consistently put the needs of others above their own, before and throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.”
Carers Week takes place across the UK, and in Scotland helps highlight the invaluable work unpaid carers carry out while helping to save the country’s NHS more than £11billion a year.
As well as the Walk500, Connecting Carers had posters in empty shop windows, shopping centres and individual shops across every area of Highland.
A number of groups and sports clubs, including Mikeysline, Inverness Craig Dunain Rugby, Highland
Rugby Club players, Inverness Caledonian Thistle and Physio Inverness took part in the Walk500 and highlighted the campaign across their social media channels.
Connecting Carers’ manager, Roisin Connolly, said:"What a fantastic campaign, promoting and encouraging all in our community to recognise and value all that unpaid carers do day in and dayout. Well done to all that took part in the Walk500 and collectively walked a staggering 2524 miles, an incredible effort with great community spirit.”
Barbara Brown from Connecting Young Carers, said: “Carers Week this year was a fantastic opportunity to not only raise awareness of unpaid carers but for the Young Carers team it was our first face-to-face event in more than a year, since the start of the pandemic.
“Giving the children and young people a break, having some fun and meeting other Young Carers was invaluable.
“We really appreciate the support from all those who supported us during Carers Week, going on walks, sharing our info on social media and displaying our posters! We hope the momentum for awareness of the needs of unpaid carers of all ages in Highland will continue."
