Staff and pupils from a north-east secondary school will set off on a gruelling journey across Scotland on Friday.
The team from Banchory Academy will walk, cycle and canoe nearly 300 miles from the west to the east of the country to raise money for charity BLESMA – The Limbless Veterans.
It will be the sixth year the school has taken part in the Across Scotland challenge, and if this year’s participants reach their £15,000 target, it will bring their total donation to local causes to £70,000.
Today, the 14 pupils – aged 13 to 15 – will be joined by four staff and two members of the charity as they head to Vatersay on the Outer Hebrides.
From there, they will head to the Butt of Lewis, crossing the Western Isles to the mainland where they will travel from Ullapool to their final destination, Tarbat Ness Point on the Dornoch Firth, where they hope to arrive next Saturday.
Deputy rector Colin Nichol, who has been on the last five challenges, said this year’s route was the toughest yet.
He said last night: “I think there’s some nervous anticipation and excitement.
“This is the longest route and the most challenging event we’ll have done, it’s a big trip.”
Although Mr Nichol and other members of staff worked out the route for the challenge, the pupils organised various fundraisers towards it. They also nominated the charity they want the proceeds to go to.
This year, they chose BLESMA in memory of limbless veteran Paul Burns, who joined the school on the expedition last May.
Mr Burns, who lost both his legs in an explosion in Northern Ireland in 1979, died two weeks after completing the journey after crashing his handbike, breaking what was left of his leg and suffering a blood clot. He was 52.
Mr Nichol added: “The kids were very upset about his death. They sent a whole pile of photos from the trip to his family for the funeral.
“His passion for adventure and for BLESMA will be with us all the way and we really hope that we can raise as much money as possible for a cause so close to his, and all our hearts.”
Annette Hall, head of fundraising for the charity, described the school’s efforts as a “fitting tribute” to Mr Burns and thanked them for their efforts.