A DRUMCHAPEL man has taken on an epic trek along one of Scotland’s most famous challenges alongside his best friend to raise money for an important heart charity.

Joe Devlin, 43, and his pal, 42-year-old David White, have been friends and colleagues since they met as apprentice engineers 26 years ago, and the pair decided to do something spectacular to mark their long friendship.

At the beginning of June, they took on the challenge of walking the West Highland Way in just four days – and then ending the 96-mile trek by climbing Ben Nevis to raise funds for Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland (CHSS)

The duo completed the test in just four energy-sapping days and raised over £2,100 for the charity. Now their hard work is set to pay off big time as their employer, international spirits company the Edrington Group, has promised to double match their total for the charity.  

The chums chose Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland because each has a personal connection to heart and lung conditions.

Joe’s mum, Janet Gilmour, had stents fitted in her heart and lived with COPD before passing away six years ago. 

David’s dad, Tony, had two heart attacks in his early 50s and a quadruple bypass following the second aged just 52. Tony is now 82 and still healthy.

Joe said: “When we were younger, we went on holiday and spent a lot of time together, but now we both have families and meeting up outside work becomes harder in our hectic lives.

“Doing the West Highland Way seemed like a great way of doing something we both enjoy and getting a catch-up of the good times over the last 25 years.

“We chose CHSS because this is a charity that helps people we know have suffered, from close friends and family to work colleagues.

“We also took advantage of the charity days we have from work.”

Aristotelis Baroutsis of Edrington said: “Supporting our employees in giving back to their communities is an important part of Edrington’s culture.

“Every employee has four days’ paid leave a year to volunteer, and funds raised for charities are matched by both Edrington and our principal shareholder, the Robertson Trust.

“We’re delighted to add our contribution to David and Joe’s fantastic fund-raising effort for Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland.”

Andrea McIntyre, community and events manager for CHSS in the west of Scotland, said: “It is thanks to our fund-raising heroes like David and Joe that we’re able to help people with chest, heart and stroke conditions live their lives to the full.

“The money raised from their challenge will help ensure that people across Scotland can do more than survive and really live.”

You can donate by visiting the pair’s JustGiving page at justgiving.com/fundraising/david-white96.