DOZENS of Inverclyde workers have stepped up to a fitness challenge by covering a distance that would have taken them all the way to the south of France!

They completed a ‘virtual’ walk by using a pedometer to measure the distance they travelled in six weeks. The 100 keep-fit volunteers were from Inverclyde Council and Inverclyde Heath and Social Care Partnership.

Councillor Joe McIlwee, chair of the partnership, said: “Being more active in the workplace can help with weight loss and increased fitness levels, and clearly as an employer there are benefits to having a more active, healthy workforce.” The challenge was done through a virtual world walking website created by local exercise group, the Inverclyde Globetrotters.

The top team in Inverclyde was the ‘Port Prescribing Possee’ from Port Glasgow Health Centre, who walked the equivalent of Greenock to Monaco – a distance of more than 1,400 miles.

The top three Inverclyde teams were: ‘Port Prescribing Posseee’, Port Glasgow Health Centre — 1,419 miles; 2nd, ‘Mick’s Angels’, Inverclyde Royal Hospital — 1,276 miles; 3rd ‘Finance Flip Flops’, Inverclyde Council — 1,205 miles.