TWO sisters stepped up to complete a 20 mile challenge in memory of their late father.

Lisa Bilsland and sister Angela Archdeacon walked around the Isle of Cumbrae twice to raise funds for the British Heart Foundation in tribute to dad George Fyfe, 74.

George worked with IBM for many years as an engineer was very fit and active, taking part in the Edinburgh marathon and also enjoyed golf and swimming.

George regularly cycled to work from his home in Wemyss Bay, but after retiring suffered a heart attack when swimming in a pool in Greenock around ten and a half years ago.

Thankfully a doctor and nurse were in the pool at the time and provided immediate CPR. George survived but was subsequently fitted with a pacemaker and defibrillator, before losing his life to heart trouble in February of this year.

Lisa, 45, who works at Slater, Hogg and Howison in Largs, said: "My father was very active so it goes to show that you can still have a fit and healthy lifestyle but you can still be affected by heart disease.

"It was very fortunate when he was swimming at Gourock ten years ago that there was a doctor and nurse in the pool at the same time who were able to rush to his aid.

"Despite the setback, he still carried on with his walking, swimming and golf - and he did his very best to walk the dog.

"He had been so fit and healthy but eventually his heart just couldn't keep going.

"Working at IBM for many years, my dad made many great friendships and he loved living in Wemyss Bay."

George is survived by wife Anne, who lives in Wemyss Bay.

Both Lisa and Angela, 43, raised the impressive sum of £3,100 for the charity through their big trek.

Lisa is married to Donald, and they coupl have two children Rose, 10, and Anna, seven. The family live in Douglas Street in Largs, while Angela has two boys, Paul, 22, and Lawrence, 11 and lives in Hazel Walk.

Lisa, who is a senior sales negotiator at the estate agents, said: "We wanted to do the virtual kiltwalk to raise funds for a charity which is close to our hearts and to give something back. Every penny we raised will be topped up by 50 per cent thanks to the generosity of Sir Tom Hunter and The Hunter Foundation.

"Donations to the British Heart Foundation fund more than half of all cardiovascular research that happens in UK universities and hospitals.

"Over the last 50 years, these donations have helped to make the breakthroughs that have halved death rates from heart and circulatory disease in the UK.

"We had never tackled the kiltwalk before and it seemed a great opportunity to raise funds for such an important cause.

"We thought that the Isle of Cumbrae would be the ideal location - and walking round it twice represented a bit more of a challenge."

The link for donations is https://virtual.thekiltwalk.co.uk/fundraising/ScotlandsVirtualKiltwalk2021-LisaBilsland