Chipinfor globaleffort

Employees working for the Perthshire potato supply firm Branston are doing a virtual round the world in 80 days challenge to help Rachel House hospice in Kinross.

Staff were disappointed that due to COVID-19 they had to cancel their fundraising activities including scrapping plans for a 100-mile sponsored cycle ride.

So they looked at other ways they might help their charity of the year, Rachel House, which is run by Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS).

They opted to instead take part in a walking, running, cycling and canoeing challenge to see if the team can virtually make it around the world in 80 days, logging their time/route on an app.

Each day, staff taking part aim to cover more than 300 miles. The team will be racing against the clock to rack up the miles, aiming to make it all around the equator in a straight line, a target of 24,901 miles.

Day one was Saturday, August 8 and they will keep the energy up to see how far they get by Monday, October 26.

Staff from all its sites will be boosting their fitness and raising much-needed funds for Rachel House, which provides care for babies, children and young people with a range of life-shortening conditions.

James Truscott, managing director at Branston, said:“It was really disappointing that we had to cancel our fundraising events this year due to coronavirus. However, we’re delighted that we can still raise money for a charity that is local to us by taking part in a virtual challenge instead.

He added:“We hope that everyone is keen to support and encourage our endeavours, we’re aiming to raise at least £16,000 across all three Branston sites.”

To donate visit www.justgiving.com/ fundraising/ branston-around-the-world-in-80days-scotland