Scottish couple complete Arctic marathon for Walk the Walk

A Scottish couple endured temperatures of - 20C as they completed a walking marathon in the Arctic last month.

Jim Robertson, 62, and wife Gill, 44, took on the challenge to raise money for their chosen charity Walk the Walk.

And it is just the first of eight walking marathons they will complete this year.

The couple, from Birichen, Highlands, have walked dozens of marathons and raised £30,000 since they started fundraising in 2007.

They first walked the 26.2 mile Edinburgh Moonwalk through the night while wearing decorated bras.

In 2014, they completed their first eight-challenge year, taking on the London and New York marathons in that time.

They completed another seven last year, including the 62-mile Thames Path Challenge.

The Arctic walking marathon has been their biggest challenge yet.

They set off on their 26.2 mile journey through the Arctic region of Sweden’s Lapland on February 26th, finishing the marathon two days later.

Gill said: “On day one we skied 13.1 miles to our next base camp. There was a group of 21 of us out there and all were women - Jim was the only man.

“In our four groups we all headed into the unknown and soon learned how to cross-country ski in the middle of nowhere.

“On day two we skied the final 13.1 miles and completed the Arctic marathon. We had to stop to let a herd of over 800 reindeer pass in front of our group - it was a fantastic sight.

“In true Walk the Walk style, on our final night in the Ice bar and the Ice hotel we sported our decorated bras for a team photo.

“We then returned to the airport on a dog sled.”

She added: “We have another seven marathons to walk this year and will once again be taking on the Thames path 100k challenge.

“Since 2007 we have raised nearly £30,000 for Walk the Walk. We are hoping to reach this target this year.”

“We have raised in excess of £11,000 for other charities but our main charity, Walk the Walk, always inspires us with groups of people all with the same mind-set raising awareness and fundraising whilst getting fit.

“We go through many pairs of trainers.”

Walk the Walk is a breast cancer charity which provides grants to projects and campaigns involved with the disease.

The charity is the principal funder of the Maggie’s Centre at Gartnavel General Hospital in Glasgow.

For more stories about charity heroes, please visit: The Scotsman Giving Back