Staff warm up for a 24-hour shop window exercise routine

Published on Tuesday 24 November 2009 08:39

IT'S the time of year when city centre businesses are all busy dressing their windows for the festive season, but at the Edinburgh Solicitors Property Centre in George Street there will be window display with a difference this year.

Members of staff have pledged to spend 24 hours in the window as they attempt to run and cycle more than 200 miles to raise money for charity.

The seven-strong team will start their multi-marathon effort at the sound of the One o'Clock Gun on Friday, 4 December and keep on exercising in the firm's George Street showroom right through the night and into the following day.

They will finish when the gun fires at 1pm on Saturday.

The team will raise money for the Alzheimer's Research Trust and for Radio Forth's Cash for Kids appeal.

Marketing manager Neil Harrison said the team were taking advantage of the fact that ESPC was one of the few businesses in the city centre which does less business in December, as shoppers turn their attention to buying Christmas presents rather than new homes.

He said: "The buzz of the showroom gets a bit quieter during December and it's a prime spot with people milling about in George Street during the day and the evening.

"There's a small group of runners and cyclists in the company and we thought 'Let's sit in the shop window and do different things through the evening'," he said.

They hope passers-by will donate money for the charity, even after the showroom doors close at the end of the day.

Mr Harrison said: "We don't have a letterbox but there's a way of adjusting our doors so that you can post money through the sides, so people can still donate after we're closed.

"We're just working out the schedule now, though nobody wants the 3am slot. We'll all stay there for the whole 24 hours and just take it in turns. We're all raising money, and whoever raises the least will have to do the most exercise."

The group will use a treadmill and stationary cycle lent by Edinburgh Leisure for the event.

Community fundraiser for the Alzheimer's Research Trust, Charlotte Garner, said there were nearly 5,000 people in Edinburgh living with dementia.

She said: "We are very grateful to the staff at ESPC for the time and effort they are putting into this inventive challenge.

"By raising money for vital dementia research they are helping to bring a cure ever nearer.

"We wish them every success and hope that passers-by will give them plenty of encouragement and keep them motivated," she said.