A THANKFUL mum is getting ready to give back to a charity that supported her after she gave birth to triplets last year.

Home-Start East Lothian were on hand to help Kirsty Dow and the new arrivals, Grayson, Max and Travis.

The youngsters, who were born last January, spent time in hospital and attended a variety of appointments, which presented challenges for Kirsty and husband Darren.

Now Kirsty is getting ready to pull on her walking boots and take part in the Edinburgh Kiltwalk on Sunday, to say thank you to the good cause, which is based in Tranent.

She said: “When I had the babies, I spent quite a lot of time when I had two at home and one in hospital.

“That is when Home-Start started visiting us – we have got Emilie Westwood, the family support worker.

“Last year she started coming out every week to the house just for a couple of hours and it just helped having someone coming to give me some time. It was time I could wash the bottles or do some washing or have someone to talk to.

“It can get quite lonely being at home with babies by yourself. Things can get challenging and Emily really helps me to give them more one-to-one time.”

Last year, while Grayson was in hospital, Home-Start also dropped off food for the couple, who live in Wallyford.

Before the triplets’ arrival, Kirsty, who works for Standard Life, knew little about the group.

Home-Start is a community network of trained volunteers and expert support helping families with young children through their challenging times.

Kirsty said: “I had heard of Home-Start but did not really know what they did. My sister-in-law used them in Glasgow when she had her twins.

“She had them just before lockdown and they helped her.

“I did not really know what they did and it was round about the dads’ ante-natal classes and Home-Start were on the course. They heard we were having triplets and got in touch to ask if they could help.”

Now the 34-year-old is getting ready to give a little bit back to the group, which is based in the Early Years Centre on Sanderson’s Wynd.

She will line up with others for The Mighty Stride – a 21-mile walk from Duddingston into East Lothian and then back along the coastline through Portobello and into Leith.

Walkers will continue onto Granton and Silverknowes, before venturing through the capital and finishing at Scottish Gas Murrayfield.

Kirsty, who will be doing the walk without her three 19-month-old sons, estimated that pushing the pram with her three boys in it weighed about 45-50kg.

She said: “I’ve always done lots of walking. Before I had the babies, I did hill-walking and long-distance walking.

“It was quite shocking to see when I had them I could not do anything, and was struggling to walk round the block with the pram. The Kiltwalk gave me something to work towards building up to something.

“I just wanted to give back and felt they have given me so much.”

To support Home-Start East Lothian, go to www.justgiving.com/fundraising/kirsty-dow4