A SPECIAL walk designed to help families remember their lost loved ones has raised more than £4,000 for a local children's charity.

Children’s Hospices Across Scotland, better known as CHAS, recently held a poignant memory walk event to give families supported by the charity the opportunity to gather together and fondly remember their children.

The moving event took place near the banks of Loch Lomond on Sunday, September 10, starting and finishing at Loch Lomond Shores, and was a chance for family and friends to come together and share memories of their beloved children in the beautiful surroundings of the National Park.

Fiona Leslie, mass participation events manager at CHAS, said: “Our Memory Walk is such a special event and an opportunity for families supported by CHAS to meet with others who have shared a similar journey.

“Many families who took part last year, told us they would like to use the event as a chance to raise money for CHAS.

"We’re absolutely blown away with the amount that has been raised. It’s more than we could ever have imagined and we’re so grateful to everyone who took part.

“We’d also like to thank Loch Lomond Shores for all their support in organising the event; Mimi’s Bakery in Edinburgh for donating baked goodies for our families to enjoy after the walk and to Jack James Mullen who has been such a dedicated supporter of CHAS for many years.”

This is only the second time the charity has hosted the special event and this year, families taking part were given the option of raising money for CHAS via sponsorship if they so wished.

With the sun shining and Ben Lomond providing a stunning backdrop, over 70 people walked the 5K route, raising an incredible £4,291.

During the event, families were given a pebble to hand paint as a lasting reminder to commemorate the day, with many families choosing to place their stone around a special tree which was planted in the grounds of Loch Lomond Shores during last year’s inaugural event on October 9 2022.

Talented teenager, Jack James Mullen (17), from Bonhill, who is a long-time supporter of the charity, also provided some entertainment, performing a number of classic songs.

CHAS is the only charity in Scotland that provides hospice services for babies, children and young people with life-shortening conditions.

The national charity offers palliative care and respite for the whole family via its two hospices, Rachel House in Kinross and Robin House in Balloch.

The CHAS at Home service supports families in their own homes across the whole of Scotland and through its Diana Children’s Nurses and specialist children’s consultants working in hospitals across the country.

To get find out more about CHAS or to make a donation, please visit www.chas.org.uk.