TV presenter Lorraine Kelly has launched an appeal for a long-distance charity walk – with the help of a group of soldiers in red personalized t shirts.

Ably assisted by five army cadets clad in printed t shirts and camouflage trousers, Lorraine – herself in a charity t-shirt – jogged over the fens near her home town of Dundee to raise entries and sponsorship for the 2012 Alliance Trust Cateran YOMP. A 52-mile walking challenge along the picturesque Cateran Trail in Perthshire, two thirds of the money raised will go to ABF The Soldiers’ Charity, the rest being divided between the PSYBT – Princes Scottish Youth Business Trust – and the Alliance Trust Staff Foundation.

The printed t shirts worn by Lorraine’s cohorts are not only striking; they support the work of The Soldiers’ Charity, which gives financial help to working and retired service people and their families, in times of need. The ATSF was set up by Alliance Trust staff members with the aim of raising funds for local communities through events such as the Cateran YOMP. In this they have been hugely successful – the 2011 inaugural event attracted more than 200 “yompers,” who between them raised over £200,000. The organisers – Wildfox Events – are hoping this year will be even more successful.

With three levels of difficulty (22, 36.5 and 52 miles), the 2012 Cateran Yomp takes place over 24 hours on the last weekend in June. There will be plenty to entertain participants and their families, with live music, clay pigeon shooting, archery, firework displays and more. The sponsors will naturally be wearing personalized t shirts to promote their firms – maybe giving the Youth of Scotland a few business ideas of their own.