Heather McArthur
An intrepid Strathaven fundraiser inspired cancer patients and their families recently as he told of his adventures in an effort to help.
And that included tales of his latest expedition – a gruelling, non-stop, 205-mile endurance race across the USA.
Derek Stewart spoke to supporters of the Lanarkshire Maggie’s centre about his 12 years of fundraising for the charity, which has seen him raise more than £75,000 to date.
Derek was invited to speak at the “evening of inspiration and motivation” to encourage people to take on a challenge in support of Maggie’s; but said he “left more inspired than I’d arrived” after hearing the stories of some of those supported by the Airdrie centre.
He has previously competed in three ultra-marathons and three Ironman triathlons, each involving a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile cycle and 26.2-mile marathon.
The 58-year-old had also successfully tackled the Marathon des Sables – five and a half marathons in six days across the Sahara desert – plus six marathons in a week in the Grand Canyon, before taking on the Tahoe 200 late last year.
Running in memory of his late friend, Carol O’Docherty, he completed the epic challenge in California and Nevada which saw him negotiate 40,200 feet of ascents and even negotiating bear country, in just over 85 hours.
Derek finished 65th in a race which one-third of the 215 starters did not complete, crossing the line ahead of target in a total time of three days, 13 hours and 16 minutes after having a combined total of just seven hours’ sleep throughout.
His efforts raised nearly £10,000 for the centre thanks to online donations, plus £1800 collected by fellow guests at a conference hosted by research firm RSMR and doubled by the company – with that conference boost also being doubled through the Caramel Wafer matchfunding challenge recently run by confectionery firm Tunnock’s, who are supporters