SCOUTS from Rosyth and Kirkcaldy walked 1000 miles and raised more than £2,000 for Maggie's Fife in memory of a former Cub Scout leader.

Various Scout groups walked different lengths of the Fife Coastal Path between North Queensferry and Kirkcaldy last week as part of the Coastal Challenge initiative.

The initiative was set-up by Darrian Wilson, a Cub Scout leader from Inverkeithing, after his long-term partner and fellow leader, Helen Morton, passed away last year through cancer.

Helen and Darrian were extremely well supported by Maggie’s Centre in Fife from the point of diagnosis until her passing at the neighbouring hospice at Victoria Hospital.

Darrian was keen to repay the support shown to him and his partner during such a difficult time.

He said: “I don't believe in taking without giving back. Maggie's Fife helped Helen live with cancer and gave practical advice and support as well as offering a safe haven. To say thank you would simply not be enough and I wanted to ensure that others would have access to the same great support we had.”

Boys, girls and adults from the age of six upwards all took part in the walk. The Scouts could choose to walk different lengths from North Queensferry, Inverkeithing, Dalgety Bay, Burntisland, Kinghorn or Kirkcaldy to Aberdour depending on their age or ability.

Ben Dykes, a scout from Dalgety Bay, walked the whole distance of 18 miles from North Queensferry and raised an impressive £250 of the £2,058 total.

Ben, 12, said: "Walking 18 miles was a challenge but not as much of a challenge as having cancer. I was determined to finish the walk and make a difference in someone's life with the money I raised.”

The walk was part of the Scouts Community Week, where Scouts celebrate their work within the community through various events.

Terry O'Neill, Rosyth District Commissioner, Richard Cook, Kirkcaldy District Commissioner, and Aiden O'Neill, Beaver Scout, joined both Ben and Darrian to make the presentation of the funds raised to Maggie's Centre.

The whole group gathered together at Silver Sands Beach at Aberdour to hear from a representative of the Centre about their work and how the money raised would be spent.

Maggie's Centre offers invaluable information, practical and emotional support to people with cancer and their loved ones.