My dear Norwegian friend Kaare Alme, known to many of us as the smallest Viking, sadly passed away unexpectedly in December 2024. He was one of my closest friends and despite suffering from birth with the disabling condition Charcot-Marie-Tooth, he was such an inspiration to so many people.

Kaare was forever an optimist and someone who didn't let his disability stop him from getting the most out of life. He also had a tremendous heart for helping others in need. For example Kaare befriended many homeless people and refugees living close to him. He fought against injustice in the world and wasn't scared of getting his hands dirty. He was such a courageous little man, exceptionally generous, kind and good humoured with a great wit and childlike sense of fun.

He was someone who I could always rely on to be there when I needed him and was someone I could discuss anything with in complete confidence. It really was such a great privilege and honour to have him as my friend. Even more so to have him as best man at my wedding.

Charcot Marie Tooth is a progressive condition that causes nerve damage, leading to muscle weakness and numbness. Kaare was confined to a wheelchair before the age of 40 and sadly only lived to 54. It seemed fitting to honour him by raising funds for a charity that supports people living with this disease.

I am going to walk 200km from Largs, Scotland's Viking town on the west coast, to Haddington a town in East Lothian that Kaare loved and made some special memories. I am going to wear a kilt for the walk, as Kaare loved Scotland and was proud to wear a kilt when he was my best man back in 2010.

I will start this walk on the 24th May and will finish on 4th June, which would have been Kaare's 55th birthday. The route I will walk will take me along part of the route of the Clyde and Forth canal between Glasgow and Edinburgh. This is significant as a few years ago Kaare and I dreamed that perhaps one day I could walk this route and he could join me in his "wheelie" (motorised wheelchair). Sadly that was a ambition we never fulfilled, so I will walk that path for him and take him with me in my heart and mind.

I will start my walk in Largs at the statue of Magnus the Viking, which stands 6 metres tall, and will finish at the Tyneside Tavern in Haddington, where Kaare and I spent a few special times not least a joint 40th birthday party in 2010.

The walk will take me seven consecutive days and I will walk around 25km to 30km each day.