Digby Brown takes on 24 hour court tour challenge

More than 150 people at legal practice Digby Brown will between them attempt to cover a 1,443-mile virtual loop of Scotland’s courts, in just 24 hours on Friday 31 July.

The "Scottish Courts Challenge" will see the team walk, run, cycle, or even row the equivalent distance between the country’s 39 civil court locations, in aid of mental health charities local to the firm's seven offices. 

Each person will walk, run or cycle however long they can manage in half a day with their effort logged in a digital fitness app which will record the collective total. Many of the team are choosing to walk past one of the court locations. The firm’s social media channels will track their progress.

Their route starts at Lerwick in Shetland, then tracks down the east of the country to Jedburgh before heading west to Stranraer, then north to the finish in Stornoway. It was devised in recognition of the reopening for business of the civil courts after they were forced to close because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Recognising that asking other businesses or individuals for sponsorship to fundraise for this event was not appropriate, Digby Brown will instead donate £10 for each mile covered, giving a potential total of £14,430.  

Chief executive Fraser Oliver commented: "Like many businesses, Digby Brown had to postpone or cancel many events with our staff working remotely from home, so we wanted to create something fun and worthwhile with our whole team brought together again, albeit remotely.

"Without the courts functioning even in a virtual capacity our clients’ cases were delayed. It is therefore great news that with the hard work of the Scottish Courts & Tribunals Service, the courts have reopened and, in turn, it seemed like a good idea to celebrate this by using the court route as our challenge."