London’s calling for marathon man Alan
Aiming to hit funding goal
Today marks the start of a big journey for Perth fundraiser, Alan Glynn.
He heads down to London later today ahead of the London Marathon on Sunday, when he will run the big race for the seventh time.
“Just finishing it will smash it for me,” said the local man who has devoted the last five years to running for charity in memory of the 19 month-old daughter Alexis Rose, who died suddenly of a meningitis infection in 2011.
His sponsored running and other efforts have raised more than £150,00 for Meningitis Research Foundation (MRF).
But he’s decided that this will be his last marathon, having run 35 previously.
“I’m going to keep doing half marathons and 10K races, but it feels fitting to call it a day after my seventh London Marathon. Things have come full circle, this race was the first one I did after all.”
This Sunday Alan will don his special purple running vest, made for him by local firm Sprinterz Perth. “Purple’s great, you can spot me,” he says.
Another Fair City business, Home Heating Services, has sponsored him for the marathon and he will wear their name and logo on his back.
Other names have special importance for the dad of four.
“I will be running the 2017 London Marathon for my Alexis and also for John, a teenager sadly taken by meningitis,” explained Alan, who’s proud to be MRF’s ambassador for Scotland.
“What the charity does in the fight against the disease is superb and it’s an honour for me to have been given this role.”
Warming up yesterday, Alan admitted training this time had been particularly tough and he wasn’t as far advanced physically as he felt he should be.
“But mentally, I’m ready,” he said with Perth man Alan Glynn. Pic: Angus Findlay Photography