A team of costume-clad superheroes completed a 22 mile run from Dunfermline to Edinburgh on Sunday in aid of the Royal Hospital for Sick Children.

Starting from Glen Gates, a group including Spiderman, Buzz Lightyear, Batgirl and Superman ran to the capital and were piped through the Meadows before finishing outside the hospital.

And to show their super powers hadn't waned, some ran an extra four miles to make it a marathon effort!

As reported in the Press, the colourful characters initially teamed up during lockdown to bring some cheer to Dunfermline.

They are now taking part in the Lap the World challenge – a fundraising race between Edinburgh's and Glasgow's children’s hospital charities to virtually cover the distance around Scotland and the equator (50,087km) before July 31.

The West Fife superheroes have raised around £9,000 in just three weeks so far for Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity, which supports the Royal Hospital for Sick Children. More than 2,000 people have signed up to Lap the World.

Buzz Lightyear, aka Andy Spence, said: “I’ve joined Team Edinburgh in the race to Lap the World as I’ve been a supporter of the Sick Kids since 2005 when they saved my daughter Hope’s life.

“Our family is so grateful to the wonderful hospital teams for everything they have done for us. Myself and my wife have clocked up many kilometres over the years by running marathons and half marathons to raise money for them.

“Hope has also signed up to the fundraising challenge, as without Team Edinburgh, we wouldn’t be Team Spence.

“Our team of superheroes are absolutely thrilled that we have now raised so much for the charity and we hope to raise even more before the end of the challenge.”

Duloch Spiderman, aka Dave Roper, started the superhero trend in Dunfermline by running around his local area in his lunch break to lift spirits in lockdown.

As well as the money for Sick Kids, the superheroes have helped him raise nearly £10,000 for Calaiswood School in Dunfermline.

He said: “Sunday was just incredible. I’m still running every day to cheer people up but these events we have done together have just been fantastic.

“I could have never known running around some streets would turn into this! After doing 22 miles, I convinced some of the others on Sunday evening that we couldn't not complete a marathon just for the sake of a few miles. It was only right!”

Victoria Buchanan, from ECHC, said: “We are so excited to have the superheroes on Team Edinburgh and would like to say a huge thank you to them for running such an incredible distance for the children, families and staff of the Sick Kids."

To support the superheroes, visit: https://www.justgiving.com/team/DunfermlineSupeheroes Lap the World runs July 6-31.