Stagecoach Staff Walk 115 Miles for Sands

Stagecoach East Scotland staff have hit the road for SANDS - but not on a bus.

Last month, the team of staff from the training school in the company's head office in Dunfermline, walked around the perimeter of Loch Leven for the charity SANDS, collectively walking 115 miles.

Raising over £1500, eight members of staff completed the walk in full, with other colleagues helping them along the way and giving additional support in the cold conditions.

The hard earned cash will be upped by Stagecoach East Scotland, making the grand total a whopping £2000 for the charity.

Norma Davison, Kenny Dowie, Alex Hogan, Gordon Hunter, Lynsey Maxwell, Alistair Ross, Ian Stalley and Alyson Stevens walked the full route and helped raise the £2000 total, with training co-ordinator Ashley Skinner even completing parts of the walk at six and a half months pregnant.

SANDS is a stillbirth and neonatal death charity. Operating throughout the UK, SANDS supports anyone affected by the death of a baby and promotes the vital research needed to reduce the loss of babies’ lives. This charity is close to the heart of many employees at Stagecoach East Scotland, especially Ashley and Michael Skinner, who both work at Stagecoach East Scotland. Their daughter Leigha was tragically stillborn in March 2013. They therefore dedicated their walk to her memory, the participants of the exercise hope to raise awareness of the issue.

Paul Thomas, Managing Director said: "We're extremely proud of our team of walkers and we all applaud their efforts. We hope the money raised will help SANDS in the crucial work they do day to day, helping families like Ashley and Michael deal with the loss of a child. I think I speak for everyone at Stagecoach when I say well done and we're delighted to add to their funding total."