Marathon man Andy all set for 100-mile run

AForfar man is kicking aside the chance to put his feet up on his birthday with a marathon round-angus run.

Andy Kydd could have been excused for taking it easy when he turns 38 at the end of May.

But filling up on birthday cake just doesn’t do it for Andy.

Instead, the electrician will pull on his trainers and don his kilt for an epic 100mile run around the district.

And although he’s no stranger to racking up the miles to raise money for a good cause, Andy says the scale of the challenge is way beyond anything he has tackled before.

In fact, he is relatively new to being out there pounding the streets.

“I didn’t really start running until about six or seven years ago,” said Andy. However, following the death of his dad, Roy, he began a remarkable twoyear fundraising challenge for the British Heart Foundation.

And when it comes to challenges, he sets the bar high.

Andy took on a mountain marathon, five marathons, eight half-marathons and a double figure 10k tally to raise more than £2,000 for the British Heart Foundation.

He said: “My dad’s death was what kind of got me into running when I decided to do something to raise money in his memory.

“On my birthday last year I got the feeling that I should try and do something again – so I just skipped the idea of 50 miles and have gone for the 100 around Angus.”

This time Andy will be raising money for Tayside Children with Cancer and Leukaemia (TCCL) and Bardet-biedl Syndrome UK.

“There will be little breaks along the way depending on how we are getting on, but it will just be a matter of trying to get it done,” said Andy.

“I’d love to do it within 24 hours on my birthday, but I think that’s a big ask and it’s all about making sure I cross the line.

“If I have to walk or crawl I’ll do it just to complete it.”

Andy plans to start his Angus 100 from Forfar’s Strathmore Cricket Club on the morning of his birthday, May 29, and take an anticlockwise route around the county before arriving back at Lochside Park.

“We’re hoping that some people might come along and join me for a few miles during the run,” said Andy,

who runs his own business, Ark Electrical.

“I’ve also route tracked it at 106 miles, so will hopefully manage to find a few corners to cut along the way.”

Andy has set up a Facebook page for the event and is hoping for donations towards his £1,000 target through a Justgiving page.

He said local links were the reason for choosing the two charities which will benefit from his marathon challenge. Andy is friends with Liam and Ashley Wilkie of Kirriemuir, whose young daughter, Caitlin, is affected by Bardet-biedl syndrome.

The rare genetic disorder affects around one in 100,000 babies and BBS UK is the country’s only registered charity to support those with the condition and their families. TCCL was founded in 1994 and delivers a range of support to children with cancer and leukaemia, and their families.

It includes offering holidays at its TCCL Lodge in St Andrews, which the charity opened in 2015.

THE RACE IS ON: Forfar man Andy Kydd, who will run in his kilt, is taking on the 100-mile round-angus challenge to raise money for charity.

Andy Kydd has clocked up the miles for good causes.