The Proclaimers might have talked about it, but one north-east firm has gone several steps further.
Staff from Motive Offshore, based at Boyndie, have walked 500 miles across the country, all in the name of a local children’s charity.
Calling themselves Team Motive, the hikers managed to raise over £550 for the Archie Foundation by taking part in its annual virtual walking challenge.
From September 1, participants trekked the equivalent of a route taking in 10 well-known film locations, familiar to fans of Disney’s Brave, Chariots of Fire and Harry Potter, while recording the distance on pedometers.
Those taking part had to walk the miles they have covered going from St Andrews to Edinburgh, then Doune Castle, Glencoe, Fort William, Inverness, Pennan, Cruden Bay, Dundee and lastly Stonehaven.
Motive Offshore had two teams of four taking part, as well as one individual employee, who completed the challenge solo.
Louise Cowie, one of the participants, said: “Since the beginning of the year, Team Motive has completed various challenges to raise money for our chosen charities so it made sense to get involved with Archie’s virtual challenge.
“It is not only a fantastic way to raise vital funds for a special charity, but it is also encourages a healthy working life within the business, with our teams going for walks at lunchtime and after work to meet their targets.
“Our brave driver, Michael Gray, impressively tackled the challenge on his own, undertaking 10-mile walks and carrying out significant grass cutting and gardening to get his steps up, which inspired the rest of us to rise to the challenge.”
Claire Bush, charity fundraising manager, added: “Motive Offshore have been fantastic supporters of the Archie Foundation by taking part in our annual events and also organising many of their own.
“It is fantastic to have them take part in our events as they always show such enthusiasm and inject a lot of fun into everything that they do.
“We are so appreciative of everything that Motive Offshore have done to help sick children in the north of Scotland.”
The Archie Foundation, which is the official charity of the Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital (RACH), had a total of 150 teams registered in the virtual challenge, which managed to raise more than £15,000 last year.
To make a donation, visit www.justgiving.com/teams/TeamMotive2014.