Local cardiac groups teamed up with Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland, health professionals, MSPs and 120 partner organisations on all continents to show how encouraging people to remain physically active after a heart event can make a world of difference.

The Heart & Sole Challenge 2015 aims to complete a virtual walk round the world, around 34,000 miles, using the innovative World Walking website.

National and international organisations have already signed up for what may well be the longest virtual heart health walk ever undertaken, involving the most participants and the first to circumnavigate the globe involving partners on all continents.

News of the event has attracted interest from Canada to Tasmania to America and Hong Kong.

Groups around the globe will record the steps and distances they walk during the challenge until the route has been completed and together they will have walked around the world.

The website gives everybody an opportunity to share photos and chat and to be signposted to websites and relevant health messages throughout the journey.

Round the world cycling legend Mark Beaumont is supporting the challenge and will be adding his distances to the total when he trains for his next adventure in the gym.

Mark said: "Don't miss out on your chance to be a part of the global walk; sign up your colleagues, family and friends and let's make it around the world!"

Launching the event, the chairwoman of Sport Scotland Louise Martin CBE said: "Walking is a particular passion that I enjoy so I am honoured and excited to become the Patron of the Heart & Sole Challenge 2015.

"Remaining physically active for people with a heart condition can be vital and I am proud that I have the opportunity to highlight this fact and help spread the message as far and wide as possible.

" A virtual walk around the world is a great way of highlighting this important issue."

Visit www.worldwalking.org/cardiac-rehab for more details.