Rory’s Hawick walk inspires Teries to donate

Hawick’s Rory Bannerman has raised more than £3,000 for charity by walking every single road, street and avenue in his home town – around 21 miles.
By Kevin Janiak
Published 2nd Oct 2020, 12:50 GMT
The group walked down every single street in the town.The group walked down every single street in the town.
The group walked down every single street in the town.

Rory’s daughter Eilidh contracted meningitis on a family holiday in 1999, when she was just seven years old.

She stopped breathing, and the medical team fought for her life during a 40-mile journey to the Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Edinburgh.

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Rory, who is 56, said: “We were so lucky to get her back, and because we did, I have made it one of my life’s missions to make sure I remember how lucky we are every day.”

Rory Bannerman and his daughter Eilidh.Rory Bannerman and his daughter Eilidh.
Rory Bannerman and his daughter Eilidh.

As an ambassador for the Meningitis Research Foundation, Rory and his family have raised thousands to help defeat meningitis, but fundraising became more challenging when COVID-19 struck, prompting him to bring his fundraising closer to home.

“I had done charity walks before,” said Rory. “But I was determined to walk every street in my home town this time, without missing a single one.”

Eilidh, now 28 and working as a Biology teacher in Newton Mearns, has fully recovered from her childhood ordeal and returned to Hawick to join her dad on the walk.

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The journey – 44,000 steps – took eight hours with a total of 10 walkers, each pair maintaining a two-metre distance.

The Hawick streetwalk.The Hawick streetwalk.
The Hawick streetwalk.

“The community support was fantastic,” said Rory. “We weren’t shaking buckets or anything, but people stopped us to give us money and learn about meningitis. Lots of people were waving from windows ... we had a super time.”

The Hawick walk has raised more than £3,500 so far, to be split between four charities, including the Meningitis Research Foundation.

Rory said: “Covid-19 has made people realise that life can completely change in an instant, but families affected by meningitis already knew that.

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“We were just on an ordinary family holiday when everything changed and we nearly lost our daughter.”

Participants in the Hawick streetwalk, organised by Rory Bannerman.Participants in the Hawick streetwalk, organised by Rory Bannerman.
Participants in the Hawick streetwalk, organised by Rory Bannerman.

Rob Dawson, director of support at the foundation, said: “Rory and his family have helped to raise vital funds and lifesaving awareness for over two decades.

“The disease that nearly claimed Eilidh’s life remains as dangerous as ever, and we are very grateful to the Bannerman family for their support as we work to defeat meningitis.”

To donate, click here.

Related topics:HawickEdinburghCovid-19