Spotlight on macular disease at the 2026 Edinburgh Kiltwalk fundraiser

Proudly wearing their finest kilts, Lisa and her husband Chris are preparing to join the Edinburgh Kiltwalk on Sunday, September 13 all to raise funds and awareness for the Macular Society. 

The Perthshire couple are taking on the Big Stroll event, which is 11 miles from Musselburgh on the edge of the city, to the Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium. 

“We’ll be wearing our Macular Society t-shirts and the kilts of course. I think it’s going to be a great atmosphere, great spirits guaranteed for sure,” said Lisa, who is the Macular Society's digital transformation manager. 

“It’s already quite a stretch for somebody like me who does a desk job,” she joked, but already has her mind set on returning in 2027. “If it’s successful, maybe we’ll do the longer one – The Mighty Stride which is 21 miles."

Seeing the impact of macular disease

For Lisa, she is fundraising for the Macular Society to help “put a spotlight” on age-related macular degeneration (AMD). 

She said: “I knew about macular degeneration because of my previous work in accessibility and helping people with sight loss navigate technology and the world in general. What I didn't realise though, was just how common it was. 

“So it’s really important to increase visibility of the support people can get here in Scotland, where we have quite a high percentage of elderly people. Going around in our kilts with the Macular Society t-shirts in Edinburgh’s capital feels like a good chance to shout about macular disease and how people can be supported. 

“I've learned how isolating living with macular disease can be, suddenly things you care about in life can be taken away be that DIY, knitting, reading. It can open you up to loneliness and isolation. We do have support groups here in Scotland so if we can highlight that these exist, then more people might be able to attend them and not feel alone.”

Getting involved to make a difference

She added her fundraising is a chance “to give something back” and play her part in seeking a cure. 

Lisa said: “I'd like to see a cure because I want people not to have to lose their sense of who they are, their hobbies, and still enjoy life. 

“At the age people usually develop AMD, it’s a time in life when you should be having the time to do the things that they enjoy, get involved in activities, and things like that. I would love absolutely love for there to be the day people will no longer be impacted by macular disease.”