Ultramarathon runner aims to highlight the climate crisis
AN ATHLETE will shine a light on the climate crisis by taking on an epic ultramarathon challenge.
George Sherriffs will be more than 300 miles into his journey when he arrives at Dawyck Botanic Garden on Monday (April 29).
And there will be no time to rest his feet – he has a duty to perform, officially opening the panoramic deck viewing platform at the Borders beauty spot.
Sherriffs will run an incredible 356 miles over eight days to promote the work being done at Scotland’s botanic gardens.
The acquisitions librarian at the Borders site’s parent organisation, the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE), hopes to highlight biodiversity loss and the climate crisis by running round the research institute’s four gardens.
He said: “I have undertaken multiple marathons and other challenging longdistance runs over the last 39 years and felt this would be a great way to highlight the vital research and conservation work taking place at our gardens.
“This venture was originally scheduled for 2020, the 350th anniversary year of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh – a number that aligned almost perfectly with the 356-mile length of the run – but we sadly had to postpone because of the pandemic.
“I can’t wait to get started.” Sherriffs’ route, amid some of Scotland’s hilliest backdrops, starts from Benmore Botanic Garden on Tuesday (April 23) for Balloch, a distance of 51 miles.
The following day he will run 52.5 miles into Ayr and then on Thursday travel to
Stranraer, a journey of 56 miles.
He arrives at his second garden, Logan, at 11am on Friday en-route to Glentrool.
On the Saturday, his second shortest day of 39 miles takes him from Glentrool to New Cumnock. Then on Sunday it is 48.5miles to Moffat before Monday’s epic 51 miles via Dawyck to Kaimes Crossroads.
He will finish his shortest day, of eight miles, at 12pm on Tuesday, April 30, in RBGE.
It is possible for runners to sign-up and keep Sherriffs company for a small stretch of his epic run.
Commending Sherriffs for his incredible feat, Graham Stewart, Dawyck curator, said: “George’s journey represents a significant physical and mental challenge, yet through his run he raises awareness and mobilises tangible support for the work that we do at Dawyck and our other gardens to combat biodiversity loss and the climate crisis.
“We hope that locals and visitors will join in and support George.
“Please pop along and say hello at 2pm on Monday, April 29, as he arrives at Dawyck and officially opens our new viewing platform.
“The panoramic deck will allow visitors unparalleled views of many of the garden’s attractions, including giant redwoods (Sequoiadendron giganteum) and Douglas firs (Pseudotsuga menziesii).
“Other new features include a Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris), planted by local schoolchildren in late 2023 to mark the King’s Coronation.”
A Justgiving page already has around £1,000 pledged at: www. justgiving. com/ campaign/runningwild