A BIG-HEARTED Bankie says he is determined to conquer the Great Wall of China in his kilt as he wants to continue to “make a difference” in kid's lives.

Chris Daly is taking on the nine-day trekking challenge across the iconic Wonder of the World in his tartan dress after being inspired by his late mum to help those who need it most.

The Dalmuir native will walk 35km of the famous fortification for Children’s Hospice Across Scotland (CHAS), a cause he has helped raise funds for over the last decade.

And the 37-year-old admits losing the person he was closest to has led him down a path where he just wants to help others.

Speaking exclusively to the Clydebank Post, Chris said: “I had never really done very much for charity, and then when my mum was unwell, I raised money for the hospice that looked after her for a couple of years.

“After she passed, I realised, you can make a difference.”

Chris has taken part in every Kiltwalk in Glasgow since it started in 2016, and did all four (Glasgow, Aberdeen, Dundee and Edinburgh) last year, all for CHAS.

But he explained he only learned about the work that CHAS do after taking on a chance temporary job role 12 years ago.

“I’d heard about CHAS, but I didn’t know too much about what they did,” Chris continued.

“In 2011, I was awaiting my vetting for a security job I was going into.

“But the London Olympics were happening, and the vetting was backlogged, and it was taking ages.

“So, I took up a fundraising job at CHAS, just to pass the time whilst my vetting was coming through.

“They showed us a big presentation, and by the end of it, I was completely sold on what they did.

“So, I went out and tried to make them as much money as possible.”

Since that day, the Clydebank man has sat in baths of beans and shaved his head and beard for the children’s hospice.

And he is hoping to raise £3300 for the charity with his walk which will see him climb the incredible Heavenly Ladder.

Chris went on: “The rainbow room was the one that stuck with me when I had the initial presentation.

“It’s basically the room for kids that are terminal and they are tragically going to die, that is the room that they go to, but they are allowed to decorate, make it comfortable and as close to their own room as possible.

“And it was just seeing a picture of it, I was just blown away it was actually required.

“Things like doing the Kiltwalk, you are doing a very silly thing to raise money for a good cause.

“And I just think you might as well, as somebody needs to.

“CHAS in particular, they really rely very heavily on donations.”

Chris has been told the best way to train for the challenge is to walk up and down stairs rather than hill walk, with the wall known for its twists, turns, steps and slopes.

He finished: “It is essentially like doing a Kiltwalk, but just on the Great Wall of China, it’ll be interesting.

“I’m calling it the Great Kiltwalk of China.”

You can follow Chris’s progress at FatmanReturns on Tiktok and sponsor his walk at https://www.justgiving.com/page/greatkiltwalkofchina24