This year, I'm once again lacing up my walking boots for a great cause. On 14 September I'll be taking on the full 21 miles of the Edinburgh Kiltwalk alongside my friends from the Central Staggies. While we're normally cheering on Ross County (or more likely grumbling about the lack of tactical flexibility and poor substitutions), the goal here is to raise money for Africa On The Ball.

In case you're new to my sales pitch, Africa On The Ball is a small but powerful charity founded here in Scotland. As a trustee since 2021, I've seen firsthand how they use the universal language of football to create positive change. They focus on improving education, healthcare, and gender equality in disadvantaged communities in Kalingalinga, Zambia.

This year, the fundraising is more important than ever. The ultimate goal is to raise £20,000 to build AOTB's first-ever clubhouse. This isn't just a building; it will be a permanent home for the community, providing a safe space for our teams to meet, a hub for educational programs, and a base for enterprise projects that create sustainable change. Every single pound you donate gets us closer to laying the first brick and making this dream a reality.

This 21-mile walk is a big challenge, but it's nothing compared to the impact a clubhouse will have on the community we support. Your donation will not only make every step of my walk count, but it will help build a legacy that will serve Kalingalinga for years to come.

With your help I raised an incredible £800 last year and I don't want to take the piss, so I have a more modest target this year. But with the Central Staggies working together we can have an even greater impact.

I'm incredibly grateful for any support you can give. You can find out more about the charity at https://www.africaontheball.org.

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.