Gers fan to run five marathons in five days to raise money for MS
A LIFELONG Rangers fan is set to run 150 miles to an Aberdeen match, all to raise money for charity.
David Smith, an avid runner from Kirkintilloch will run five ultramarathons in five days to attend a Rangers away match at Pittodrie in Aberdeen.
The money which David hopes to raise will be donated to Multiple Sclerosis Society Scotland and the Rangers Charity Foundation.
David chose to donate to MS Society Scotland after meeting his wife Jennie, who was diagnosed with the condition in 2008.
His huge task starts on Saturday, February 2 and finishes on Wednesday, February 6, ahead of Rangers’ vital match against fellow title-contenders, Aberdeen.
However the daunting distance has not put David off – in fact, he’s looking forward to it.
“I run to clear my head and be on my own so setting these kinds of challenges is something I really enjoy,” he said.
“To be honest, training is the hardest part. Fifteen miles on a winter evening after finishing work isn’t always easy but it’s absolutely worth it.
“I just hope to raise as much money as possible for some great causes that do fantastic work in Scotland.”
The races which David will run are much longer than regular marathons, which are just over 26 miles.
These incredible tests of stamina have rocketed in popularity over the last decade, with the number of ultramarathons going up by more than 1000 per cent worldwide during that time.
Morna Simpkins, director of MS Society Scotland, said: “We just want to say a huge thank you to David for his continued support in this, quite literally, breath-taking challenge.
“More than 11,000 of us live with MS in Scotland and contributions like David’s not only provide funding for important research and support but also raise awareness of the condition.”
Multiple sclerosis is a condition which can vary greatly between those suffering from it. It often causes pain and exhaustion and cause trouble with movement and brain-function.
It affects around 100,000 people in the UK, with women almost twice as likely to develop the disease as men.
Last year, 72 people in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde area were diagnosed with the condition.
Rangers Charity Foundation Director, Connal Cochrane said: “David has been an incredible supporter of ours for some time and we are delighted that he has chosen to fundraise once again, in what I’m sure is going to be a really tough running challenge – even by David’s standards!
“The Foundation exists to act as a force for good on behalf of the Rangers Family and every penny raised for us will go a long way in supporting people both locally and across the globe, via a range of life-improving projects.
“We’d like to thank David once again for his support and wish him the best of luck in his challenge!”