ROTARY club members will tie up their laces to walk the John Muir Way, tee up for a golf event and encourage county residents to host summer barbecues to raise funds for charity.

Longniddry and District Rotary Club is trying out new and innovative ways to raise money for Alzheimer Scotland and Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS).

This weekend (August 28/29), to celebrate the Rotary club’s 41st birthday and raise crucial funds for Alzheimer Scotland, members are encouraging people to host summer barbecues and make a donation to the Rotary Club’s Justgiving page.

Derek Easton, from Longniddry and District Rotary Club, said: “We live in a community of an ageing population where illnesses such as Alzheimer’s is increasing the need for care from friends and other support groups.

“This is our opportunity to encourage the community to take part in raising money to fund treatments and the search for a cure for this cruel disease.”

He added: “This barbecue event, with its Justgiving page, is planned for the weekend of August 28 and 29 and we are really just asking people to have a friendly afternoon with family and friends and consider making a donation to the club’s project.”

The club’s barbecue for Alzheimer’s is the first of three main fundraisers to take place over the next month.

On September 1, the club will take part in a charity golf event at Craigielaw Golf Club.

Teams will pay for entry, with local companies sponsoring various holes on the course.

Derek said: “In previous years we have supported Marie Curie, The Sick Kids Hospital and CHAS but with our other events supporting national charities we decided that the main beneficiaries for this individual event should be East Lothian charities, and the details of these have still to be identified.”

While on September 18, 15 Longniddry Rotarians and their friends and family will walk the John Muir Way in a day in support of CHAS.

The team have split the walk into 14 sections, with one member of the club walking each section, from Helensburgh to Dunbar.

Derek said: “The organiser, Keith Forrester, will complete the first section from Helensburgh, calling in to Robin House Children’s Hospice in Balloch at the end of his walk.

“In addition, Rotarians from clubs in the areas we pass through will be joining us on various sections.

“On the section I am involved in there will be Rotarians from Leith, Portobello and Penicuik clubs joining my wife and I.”

The John Muir Trust will host a reception in Dunbar to welcome the Rotarians when they complete their walk.

For more information and to take part in the barbecue weekend, visit www.rotarybbqweekend.co.uk