500 Miles Anthem Becomes Charity Inspiration

Inspirational Scots Olivia Giles and Jamie Andrew have joined forces to create a new charity. Giles and Andrew – both quadruple amputees – have teamed up to launch 500 Miles, an organisation dedicated to providing prosthetic limbs to people in developing nations.

The charity’s name – inspired by the Proclaimers’ song – was chosen as an “aspirational goal” for the people it aims to help. The Proclaimers, Charlie and Craig Reid, have given their blessing.

Beneficiaries will also be able to draw inspiration from the achievements of the charity’s co-founders.

Olivia Giles, 41, was a partner in the commercial property department of a large law firm when she contracted the blood poisoning form of meningitis in February 2002, which led to the amputation of her hands and feet. Since then, she has raised close to £500,000 for meningitis charities.

She said: “Our primary focus will be to provide limbs for those who have need. These people would otherwise be wheelchair users, unable to work, or forced to live in discomfort without limbs or with limbs homemade from scrap.”

Jamie Andrew, 37, was trapped in the Mont Blanc range, near Chamonix, with fellow climber Jamie Fisher, who died. Severe frostbite led to Mr Andrew’s hands and feet being amputated. He will undertake the charity’s first major fundraising venture, to be announced next week.