Fundraisers aim to break 'three-legged' record for charity

But for 500 people in the Capital, excellent balance and superior team skills will be a must when they tie together their legs and attempt to break the "three-legged" world record.

The brave group of daredevils are set to tackle the challenge to raise around 20,000 for the local charity 500 Miles, which aims to raise funds for amputees and other disabled people in Malawi and Zambia.

Organiser Bill McWilliam, 44, from the Grange, said he developed the idea for 500 Legs after meeting 500 Miles organiser Olivia Giles, who lost her hands and feet to meningitis.

He said: "It's for a brilliant cause and is quite a fun thing to do. There's a lot of pressure though because we only get one try to make it into the Guinness Book of World Records – if we fall, stop or the ties come undone then that's it!

"We're still on the lookout for about 150 participants, so if anybody wants to be a part of it they should e-mail me. Ideally we're looking for 25 groups of 20 colleagues or friends, and we're hoping each person can raise around 25 for the cause."

Mr McWilliam, who has roped several of his family and friends into the challenge on 25 April, said there were a number of training sessions so that everybody could take some baby steps in preparation for the mammoth walk.

The next practice is to be held on 11 April in Inverleith Park, before the big event at the Edinburgh Academy Sports Centre.

He said: "We have to be tied to each other in one great big straight line and we have to walk 50 metres, so we'll need a bit of co-ordination practice. 300 or so metres of people is quite a tricky one to tackle, but with a bit of practice I'm confident that we'll do well. Hopefully we won't fail because it'll be hard to get all of those people together again."

The event will not be open to the public for safety reasons.

For those keen to support 500 Legs there is a fundraising screening of The Shawshank Redemption at the Dominion Cinema this Sunday.

Past fundraising events held by the 500 Miles charity include charity cycle rides, collections and a number of fundraisers supported by Sean Connery, The Proclaimers, Ian Rankin, Miss Scotland and First Minister Alex Salmond.

Of the latest event, Mr McWilliam said: "We're hoping that people will be generous with funds because it's a great cause. Just 100 can provide a limb for those that have been affected in Africa. Hopefully the event will make us realise how difficult it can be to move without the full use of a key limb."