Scottish Water’s ‘Tap to Tap’ challenge inspires the next generation to raise funds for WaterAid

Scottish Water launched their first ever ‘Tap to Tap’ challenge over the weekend, encouraging employees to raise vital funds for WaterAid by traveling by foot or bike between the vibrant blue Top Up Taps across the country.

The Tap to Tap challenge was created to acknowledge the distance some travel to have clean, safe drinking water. Each participant designed a custom route that connected one Top Up Tap to the next, and fundraisers could choose whether they wanted to walk, run, or cycle.

Scottish Water Delivery Manager and fundraiser extraordinaire, Paul Davidson has been a dedicated supporter of WaterAid since 2008, contributing through various fundraising efforts and hands-on involvement, including a 10-day trip to Zambia in 2012 and Rwanda earlier this year. 

His unwavering passion for the cause has also inspired his two young sons, Thomas (10) and Murray (7) who took part in the challenge on Saturday 21 September, completing a 22-mile cycle from Bo’ness to South Queensferry via the John Muir Way. 

Thomas and Murray have raised £300 so far in funds which will support WaterAid’s mission to reach communities around the world and make clean water, decent toilets, and good hygiene normal for everyone, everywhere. 

Paul spoke about the motivational factors behind his own fundraising, which inspired his two sons. He said:

“My dad worked for Scottish Water for 45 years and he too did a lot of fundraising for WaterAid. I remember doing various Munros with him at 12 years old as part of his fundraising, so it’s always been a part of our family conversations. 

“I’ve shared stories and pictures with Thomas and Murray about my trips to Zambia and Rwanda, and the various communities I visited and the projects we worked on, along with the hardships faced but also the benefits of our fundraising.”

Scottish Water has been partners with WaterAid since 1981 and has had an overwhelming response from their employees throughout that time, raising vital funds for several African countries. Numerous Scottish Water employees, their friends and family members took part in the Tap to Tap challenge to support the vital, life-changing work carried out by WaterAid.