Shop staff begin charity bike ride for Sam

Co-op staff from across the Highlands are taking on the North Coast 500 to raise funds for the Step Up for Sam campaign.

Workers from 19 branches left Telford Street store on Sunday September 9, and are due to arrive back in the Highland capital tomorrow.

The 559-mile trip marks the end of the three-month fundraising drive for the charity, which aims to fund vital treatment for three-year-old Sam Douglas.

The youngster has an undiagnosed neurological condition which causes epilepsy and developmental delay, and requires intensive therapies, many of which are not available on the NHS.

Invergordon store manager Lorraine Davidson, whose idea it was to support the campaign, said: "It’s a huge endurance challenge but all in aid of a very special little boy.

"We’ve all been incredibly touched by Sam’s story and can’t wait to see just how much we’ve raised from our in-store fundraising and the sponsored cycle event."

Co-op area manager Daniel Simpson added: "We really wanted to set ourselves a big challenge and we’ve certainly done that in the North Coast 500.

"It’s not for the faint hearted but is very befitting of this very worthy cause."

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