AN appeal was launched in St Bees encouraging businesses to tackle a Coast to Coast challenge.
The aim is to raise money for Cumbrian people and communities in need.
Businesses tackling the 171-mile challenge will be able to take part without braving the Cumbrian weather and will be able to row, walk, or pedal in the surroundings of their home, office, or gym.
Cumbria Community Foundation has launched the Virtual Coast to Coast Corporate Challenge for companies to match the distance of the Coast to Coast walk.
Caroline Adams, relationships officer with the Foundation, was one of the trio to launch the challenge at St Bees said: "The weather was awful - it was like we were being sprayed in the face constantly with icy water, but it’s all for a good cause.
"With a bit of luck, we will have dried out by the weekend."
The aim is to raise as much money as possible to help Cumbrians in need including disadvantaged children and families, older vulnerable people, and fragile communities.
The challenge is being run by Cumbria Community Foundation, as part of its 25th anniversary celebrations.
Cumbria Community Foundation chief executive Andy Beeforth said: “This is a brilliant way for businesses and our corporate supporters to raise money for local causes.
“For 25 years, the Foundation, through generous donors, has had a positive impact on thousands of lives. This challenge will help us to continue to do so.
“We also hope it will be a fun way for businesses and their staff to join together and give back to their community."
The inspiration is Wainwright’s hugely popular Coast to Coast Walk which runs from St Bees in Cumbria to Robin Hood’s Bay.
Participants can clock up the miles virtually by any means from walking to running, static bike to swimming to treadmill.
Any steps done each day during the challenge count towards the total mileage.
Teams will have six weeks to complete the 171 miles, or as much of it as they can manage, between Monday, May 20 and Monday, July 1.
Mileage covered each day can be captured by Strava or logged manually on the fundraising page and each team member’s supporters can donate directly via their page.
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