Uilly walks on for Leanne

The sponsored walk has finished, but the giving just keeps going after Peat & Diesel drummer Uilleam Macleod’s massive effort on Saturday (13 August) for the Leanne Fund.

Uilly and best friend Rebekah Mcintosh, with her dog Ralph, walked the 13.4 miles from Tolsta to Stornoway to raise money for the Leanne Fund, a charity supporting people with Cystic Fibrosis in memory of Leanne Mitchell, who was also a friend of Uilleam’s. Ahead of the walk he said: “I knew Leanne well from her time at the Lewis Pipe Band and used to get picked up most weeks for band practice. “Leanne was always smiling, always the life and soul of the band hall and always a great friend. The friendship we all had with Leanne within the pipe band and all the lifts and spins and laughs together will never be forgotten. “I was always on the guitar and vocals in the first bands I played in. I bought my first drums from Leanne, so maybe without that connection we wouldn’t have had Uilly Mac on drums.” The sponsored walk Uilly and Rebekah did on Saturday has far outstripped its £2,000 target, with £3,260 donated on the JustGiving page at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/uillywalks and donations still coming in – as well as what went into the bucket on the route. A final amount is due to be announced later this week. The total was significantly helped along by a massive £1,000 donation from Caley Timber, startling news while Uilleam was still on the road with Peat & Diesel before the walk. On Saturday Alan Mackay of Mackay driver training helped the total hit the £3,000 mark with a donation of £365. Uilleam said: “Now that we’re home I just want to relay my thanks to the Leanne Fund for letting me do this for them today. Thanks to the support team from the Leanne Fund who pushed us hard all the way to town, everyone who stopped with goodies and money and a massive thank you for every single donation to this charity. “Thanks to my bestie and Ralph for coming along and making it a breeze! I learnt this week that Rebekah also had a special connection with Cystic Fibrosis after losing a school friend to CF. “I’ve told Chrisetta we can start planning the next one which will be bigger and better!”

In return Chrisetta Mitchell said: “Thank you so much to every single person who has donated online and in person. Absolutely blown away by the support! “Uilleam and Rebekah, we can’t thank you enough for raising such a fantastic amount on behalf of the Leanne Fund. You are amazing!” The pictures show Uilleam, Rebekah and Ralph on the road and at journey’s end on Saturday.