Molly the dog walks for water!

What more could a dog ask for? A nice walk though forests and mountains.

Credit: WaterAid

Molly, the five year old border terrier and honorary member of Ryton and Crompton Rotary Club, has raised a whopping £579.50 for WaterAid by walking the West Highland Way with some friends. She kept a diary from her adventures to share with us.

Molly's diary

Tuesday 14 September
Boring day for me stuck in the back seat of the car, with my owners Andrew and Ann in the front, travelling up to Fort William.

Wednesday 15 September
Four other members of my entourage, Edith, Ian, Phil and Sarah, met me at Fort William station and took me on the train to Milngavie near Glasgow. The lady sitting behind us on the train seemed surprised when I lay on her feet for part of the journey but she appeared to like it as a she took a photo of me before I got off. Finally we met up with my old friends Ruth and Colin and our team was complete.

Thursday 16 September
This morning I spent a boring hour in Milngavie. Why the humans couldn't just start walking I don't know? It was something to do with suitcases and registering me on the walk. At last we set off and I could really enjoy myself. Nice and easy with quite a few dogs to greet. It was warm and I was ready for a drink by the end. Even the humans didn't find it too hard.

Friday 17 September
What more could a dog ask for? A nice walk though forests and mountains and best of all beside a big lake which for some reason they call a loch. I enjoyed several swims in the water to retrieve sticks thrown by the humans. It was quite a long walk and the poor dears were flagging by the end. I had to run backwards and forwards all the time rounding up the back markers.

Saturday 18 September
Another super walk mostly by Loch Lomond. As it looks like we are going to be walking for a few days I decided to conserve my energy today. In the afternoon there was a lot of scrambling over rocks which was easy for me but the humans struggled. They looked a sorry sight as they hobbled up to the hotel at about 6.45pm. Sometimes I am thankful for my four legs and healthy lifestyle.

My human entourage coped better with the walk today. It was shorter and easier.

Credit: WaterAid

Sunday 19 September
My human entourage coped better with the walk today. It was shorter (13 miles) and easier. There was no loch for me to swim in today and the weather was a little wet but that didn't trouble me.

Monday 20 September
A day off from walking today but instead of letting me rest they took me on a train to Oban and then on a big vibrating ship to Mull and on a long coach journey. The humans were excited by the views of the sea and the mountains but I couldn't even go for a swim.

Tuesday 21 September
No more trains boats or buses today thank goodness!  I am pleased to be back walking. Only nine miles today which even the humans took in their stride. We are now well away from everyone except dogs and their human helpers walking the West Highland Way. Today my lot became inexplicably excited on seeing a train go across two viaducts on the lonely line to Fort William.
It doesn't take much to keep them entertained.

Wednesday 22 September
A rather disappointing morning for me. Firstly, it was raining when we set off on our walk and secondly Edith, who had given me four sausages saved from breakfast yesterday, had none today. Apparently the breakfast at last night's hotel was too good for dogs. No swimming today for me but I had more than a spring in my step after lunch when the rain had stopped. Only 10 miles today and a good rest this afternoon but I would have liked those sausages.

Everyone celebrated with champagne whilst I had to make do with a doggy chew and a snooze on the grass.

Credit: WaterAid

Thursday 23 September
I really enjoyed my walk today. No rain and a brisk wind blowing through my ears. Even the humans found the walk fairly easy despite the climb up the Devils Staircase. I did find it a little stressful keeping check on them especially when I "lost" Andrew mistakenly thinking he was behind me when he was well in front at that stage.

Friday 24 September
This was the last day of our walk which began with a long climb into the hills. The humans are getting fitter because they didn't complain once. I had a good day because they brought me quite a lot of sausages and black pudding saved from breakfast. It was also very fine and sunny and my human friends were excited to see a big hill called Ben Nevis in the sunshine. Eventually after 15 miles I escorted them all to Nevis Bridge, the end of the West Highland Way. They celebrated with champagne whilst I had to make do with a doggy chew and a snooze on the grass. 

Tell us your news ...

We love to hear about what your club and district have been doing to fundraise and campaign for WaterAid. If you would like your story published on the Rotary news pages of the website please contact Clare McTaggart by email at claremctaggart@wateraid.org or calling 020 7793 4550