We are looking for runners of all abilities to compete in this year’s Baxters Loch Ness Marathon and Festival of Running, to raise funds for Highland Hospice.
Categories available are 5K, 10K, Corporate 10K (teams of 4) and Marathon.
Jamie and Craig did the 5K last year and they are doing it again this year for the Hospice. Here is their story…
Competing in the 5K category for Highland Hospice last year were a duo with a difference!
Personal Trainer Jamie Tulloch and his client Craig Stewart tackled the Fun Run together, each in a wheelchair.
Craig (22) was born with the rare condition Friedreich’s ataxia, which affects his coordination. He has been using a wheelchair since 2005 and befriended Jamie after approaching him to get fit and work on his physical development.
The 5K was a part of his fitness programme, and Craig’s only concern before the race was that Jamie would slow him down! Craig said, “Because I was used to the chair and Jamie wasn’t, I knew he wouldn’t be able to go faster than me. However, when I train with Jamie, he knows how to push me to the limit, and that really kept me going on the day….even although I was faster than him!”
Highland Hospice is a special place to both men. Craig lost a best friend and his grandmother to cancer, while Jamie lost his grandfather and his gran is currently fighting the disease.
Jamie (24) said, “I had done these runs before but never in a wheelchair. The first time I ever sat in a wheelchair was for a publicity photo prior to the event!”
“I was nervous beforehand, but thinking about the great work that the Hospice does kept both Craig and I going on the day. It was something different, and a fantastic and memorable experience for a great cause.”
“In fact, we are both gearing up to do it again for the Hospice this year in our wheelchairs. We can’t wait!”
To register for Baxters Festival of Running, please visit http://highlandhospice.org/baxters or call Carola on 01463 246473
