A GROUP of determined individuals from Motiv8.fitness in Stevenston have raised over £2,500 for Ayrshire Hospice after completing the gruelling 22.6 mile Kiltwalk in Glasgow.

The total raised, which currently stands at £2,628, is still set to rise, with cash donations to be added, as well as a 50 per cent top up from the Tom Hunter foundation on May 5.

The strong team of 17 was organised by Motiv8.fitness owner and personal trainer Claire Houston, who spoke to the Herald about their experience.

She said: “It was such a good day, I was actually dreading it because I’ve never wanted to walk almost a marathon distance.

"I’ve ran a marathon and I’ve always said I’ll never walk that ever!”

The team chose to take on the longest distance for the challenge, totalling 22.6 miles, and taking them through Glasgow and the city’s outskirts.

Claire added: “Because I’ve not done anything for the Ayrshire Hospice, or charity, in a while, when it came up, we all agreed we’ll do the bigger one and it’ll be a fun day – then we won’t be able to walk for two weeks afterwards!

“The weather made it amazing as well, it was really busy. Everyone that done it managed it as well which was amazing as there’s a lot of different fitness levels.”

Claire has plenty of past experience in covering long distances, however, these have usually been running challenges, completed either by herself or with her husband Scott.

She commented that it was nice to be part of a larger team this time round “with all of us struggling”.

She also added that walking the distance was no easier than running a marathon.

Claire commented: “I don’t think I was as sore doing a marathon. The bus driver dropped us off and he was sitting in that bus gutting himself! I’m thinking – ‘no wonder you’re laughing’.”

Though that hasn’t put her or anyone else off from doing similar again, as she remarked: “Everyone that’s done it said let’s do it again next year.”

Donations remain open for their fundraising efforts, in aid of Ayrshire hospice, until May 5 when the extra 50 per cent will be added and can be found on tinyurl.com/5t4pr796

More information on Motiv8.fitness can be found on Facebook - including more pictures from the walk.