CARTWHEELS, rollerskates, bicycles and even going for a stroll have helped to raise more than £2,000 for charity.

Eighty-one residents of Tranent’s Lawson Way enjoyed a spot of exercise last Saturday.

While social distancing ensured they could not exercise together, the street took it in turns to cover a total of nearly 240 kilometres, with money raised going to East Lothian Foodbank and the Walk With Scott Foundation.

Alison Brown, who has lived on the street for nearly 15 years, decided to organise the event to spread a bit of cheer during the coronavirus outbreak.

She said: “I’m off my work as a learning assistant and trying to look after my wee boy who has additional needs.

“Although I knew some of my neighbours, we did not know all of them, and I put a note through the doors and started a Facebook page just as a way to chat.

“Then I thought, I wonder what we can do together as a fundraising thing, and put out a notice on the group.

“Immediately, I got a fantastic response.”

In total, 25 houses in the street took part, with 81 residents enjoying the sunshine while helping the two good causes.

The fundraising exercise was split into half-hour slots, with the fun getting under way at 8.30am and continuing throughout the day until 9pm.

Residents were left to their own devices in how it came to clocking up the kilometres, with runners and walkers taking part, as well as rollerskaters and even cartwheelers.

Alison, who co-founded the Beach Wheelchairs charity, which provides beach-accessible wheelchairs free of charge to help people access the coastline, was delighted with the response from her neighbours.

Flags and bunting appeared, while some of the residents even took part in fancy dress, with Sonic the Hedgehog and Mickey and Minnie Mouse all popping along.

By 9pm, 167 kilometres had been walked or run, with a further 57.5 kilometres covered by people on bikes.

Youngsters scooted 8.7 kilometres, with another 2.1 kilometres rollerskated, while Alison’s son Ethan covered 2.1 kilometres in his wheelchair and fellow youngster Ollie Porter covered 0.5 kilometres in his racewalker.

Blank certificates were also left for people to fill in to mark their achievement, with the distance the equivalent of the Tranent street to Middlesbrough.

Now, the four figure sum will be split between the two charities.

Alison told the Courier one of her neighbours was involved with the foodbank, which is based on the town’s Civic Square.

Alison herself has previously had dealings with the Walk With Scott Foundation.

 

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