TWO school friends have trekked through the night in the Highlands to cover 54 miles and raise more than £2,000 for charity.

Phillip Hay and Stephanie Davidson, from Gifford, pulled on their walking boots to make their way from Gairlochy to Strathfillan – a total of 54 miles – in aid of Foundation Scotland, in just 24 hours for the Caledonian Challenge.

The charity, formerly Scottish Community Foundation, was set up to strengthen local communities by providing a source of funding to community-led projects the length and breadth of Scotland.

Twenty-four-year-old Phillip said: “Basically, over the course of 54 miles, you climb Ben Nevis twice.

“The terrain is literally a boulder field from start to finish and the last section through the night was the most challenge thing: the midges, the pain and the aches from being awake for more than 24 hours take their toll.” Originally, Phillip, from Haddington’s High Street, and Stephanie, 25, were joined by 27-year-old Darren McMaster, of Edinburgh, and Murray Bell, 26, originally from Haddington.

However, the numbers dwindled, with Murray moving from Haddington to London to start a new job and unable to commit to the trek.

Darren made it to the start line but suffered a setback during the walk, leaving Phillip and Stephanie to go it alone.

Phillip added: “The three of us set off together and Darren made it to checkpoint three at about 20 miles.

“Darren had a groin injury and he found it so difficult to carry on and he could not.” However, despite the challenge of covering the distance in just a day, the mechanical project engineer enjoyed the task.

More than 150 miles were covered in training walks, including a trip to the Cairngorms, ahead of setting off on Friday, June 13.

The trio - named The Mighty Morphin Flower Arrangers - set out at 7am and carried on through the night, finishing the route at about 5.20am on Saturday morning.

That meant using head torches to find their way across the terrain during the hours of darkness.

Former Knox Academy pupil Phillip said: “We had head torches and we thought it would be alright.

“You had your head down watching where you were going and trying to make sure you did not get lost.

“But the midges were horrendous – I’m sitting here and I’m still scratching, there were thousands of them!” Each member of the team had to raise at least £400, a total they easily surpassed.

Phillip, 24, said they went round various people “begging and pleading” for donations and also held a race night at Haddington Rugby Club.

In total, that brought in an impressive £2,025, with Phillip adding: “That’s not bad for the three of us.” To make a donation go to www.caledonianchallenge.com/teams/Mightymorphinflowerarrangers