WHEN Asian hiking group Boots & Beards went for a walk in the woods the last person they expected to see was Still Game’s Sanjeev Kohli.
Charity founder’s Kash Butt, Naveed Bakhsh, and Zain Sehgal nearly jumped out of their skins when the actor and comedian emerged from behind a bush in Glasgow’s Pollok Country Park.
Their faces were a picture when he pulled a pair of boots and a Punjabi picnic out of his rucksack and asked if he could join them all on their ramble.
The trio looked even more shocked when he reached deeper into his bag and pulled out an invite which told them Boots & Beards had won a Pride of Scotland Special Recognition Award.
Over the past six years the unique hiking group have helped 6000 people from Glasgow’s Asian community discover freedom, fitness, friendship and mental wellbeing in the Scottish hills.
Kash, 43, said: “It was a sunny Saturday and we had organised a wee ramble through Pollok Park. We were wandering along and chatting away when all of a sudden Sanjeev appeared.
“We were all taken aback and were even more shocked when he started talking to me and seemed to know my name. I had no idea what was going on.
“He asked if he could come with us on our walk because he already had the beard and then he pulled a pair of boots out of his rucksack. He also produced a Punjabi picnic wrapped in tin foil.”
He added: “He then handed me a gold envelope which I opened to discover an invite to the Pride of Scotland Awards as Boots & Beards had won a Special Recognition Award. It was a lovely surprise. We are all big fans of Navid so it was extra special receiving the news from Sanjeev.”
Radio and TV star Sanjeev said: “It was an absolute pleasure to surprise Boots & Beards with their award. While I was skulking in the woods waiting to jump out of them I worried that none of them would know who I was and I would be left red faced but fortunately the minute I appeared someone shouted: ‘Look it’s Navid.’
“I think what the group are doing is beyond marvellous. Asians don’t do the outdoors. They think they melt in the rain and if you want to see chaos and carnage just introduce a bee to an Asian picnic.
“In many ways they have achieved the impossible in getting our community outdoors and into the hills. They are making a huge mental and physical difference to people’s lives. Due to our love of food culture, Asian’s are very prone to developing diabetes so their group can actually save lives. They are superstars.”
Boots & Beards was founded six years ago after Kash fell severely ill. As part of his recovery, he decided to take up hiking to get fit. Family and friends were inspired by his Facebook pictures to join him, and he soon realised the walks could have a wider impact.
Kash, a pharmacy manager, said: “Nature doesn’t recognise colour; it is there for everyone. Also, there’s a lot of stigma about mental health in our community. It doesn’t get talked about, especially among males. It’s their bravado. They are the family head and have to be the strong one - sometimes that can be too much.”
Zain added: “When we started the group, men were opening up. They were with people their age and could share any issues they had with people they were comfortable talking to.”
Boots & Beards is open to all ages, faiths and genders, with pensioners and families with toddlers walking together. Groups are now mixed, but there is also a women only group called Bonnie Boots.”
Nafeesa Umar, 36, recently joined one of their walks. She said: “It’s really difficult for Asian women to escape the mundanity of their lives sometimes. I love all the different conversations we have. That feeling that we are all in it together.”
Boots & Beards is now a registered charity, and has branched out into badminton, spin classes and boot camps. They also organise Duke of Edinburgh expeditions.
- The Daily Record Pride of Scotland Awards with TSB, will broadcast on STV on Tuesday, July 19 at 8pm
