A TEAM of Dunfermline bank workers said they would walk 500 miles to help the little niece of one of their colleagues.
Workers at Nationwide's East Port branch stepped up for a special challenge to raise funds for tot Violet Fitzgerald, who lives in the Cayman Islands with her dad, Daniel, a former Dunfermline High pupil, and mum Brooke.
They had heard about Violet through colleague Kelly Cowe, Daniel's sister, and last week's event raised more than £3,000, which will help with future medical costs for the youngster.
At the beginning of the year, when just four-weeks-old, Violet was diagnosed with SMA type 1, a degenerative condition that involves muscle weakness, loss of movement and paralysis.
She received a one-off infusion of the gene therapy drug Zolgensma, the world's most expensive drug, which it was hoped would give her some of the SMN gene that she is missing, allowing her muscles to have some movement.
Now nine months, Violet has to take daily medication and has daily physiotherapy and, so far, is able to eat purees and is still breathing on her own without needing additional support.
Kelly said: "They (Violet's parents) are very much of the thought that she is here and that is all that matters. If she had not had this treatment back at the start, she might not be with us.
"She is breathing and eating and her personality is amazing. She just smiles. They are back at the hospital this month and we are hoping there will not be any curveballs thrown in.
"It is challenging. She is getting heavier and I think a wheelchair will be needed in the not-too-distant future and things like the walk will help with things like that."
Nationwide workers from around the region all took to the Forth Road Bridge with their families and friends for the fundraiser.
"I had explained to my boss about Violet's diagnosis and what it may mean and a couple of weeks later, he said why don't we do something for Violet as a district so that is Fife, Edinburgh and the Borders," explained Kelly.
"We went on a conference call and thought the bridge is the one thing that kind of connects us as a district and a team and thought of 500 miles with the Proclaimers as she has got Scottish heritage and that is how it came about.
"Everyone did different distances, just what they could do. The majority of people walked between 12 and 15 miles.
"The weather was fantastic. It was a perfect day and just a lovely atmosphere. We face-timed little Violet during the walk and showed her the bridges.
"It was great to raise awareness as well as no-one has really heard of SMA – including us – until Violet had her diagnosis."
Anyone wanting to help with fundraising can do so by visiting https://gofund.me/0ebf7361.
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