Renfrewshire charity staff set to put best foot forward at Edinburgh Marathon
Renfrewshire charity workers will be putting their best foot forward as they run the Edinburgh Marathon.
Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund (SCIAF) staff who live across the area are set to take on the challenge this Sunday – having added their own twist.
Catriona Elliott and Mark Adams, both from Bridge of Weir, and Paisley's Mari Everett, together with her son Thomas, will each run different 'legs' of the 26.2-mile course.
These 'legs' – the Royal leg, The Cock and Pan Leg, the Gosford Leg and the Glory Leg – are 8.3 miles, 5.5 miles, eight miles and 4.4 miles respectively. Nine SCIAF staff in total will be running on the day.
Mark, Catriona and Mari all work for SCIAF which helps people in the world's poorest places to lift themselves out of poverty, work together to protect their common home and help them recover from disaster.
For almost six decades, SCIAF has reached out to global neighbours in need – irrespective of race, religion or background – sustained by the generosity and love of people in Scotland.
The marathon is also SCIAF's contribution towards the 'Relay of Hope' which is a global moment at the end of May when organisations around the world are taking action to draw attention to the global debt crisis.
SCIAF is running its Relay of Hope event in Edinburgh and calling for cancellation of crippling debts which trap countries in cycles of poverty.
Mari, aged 56, told the Paisley Daily Express: 'I am so proud to be running for SCIAF. The memory that has stuck with me most from my first trip overseas with SCIAF was the distances that people walk in Malawi every day just to get to school, work or buy food at markets.
'The challenges that people living in remote communities face every day has motivated me on this challenge. I last ran nearly 10 years ago and didn't ever plan to do anything like this again.
'The encouragement of other SCIAF staff [runners and those supporting from the sidelines] has been crucial to me not only completing my training programme but actually enjoying it – most of the time!'
Like Mari, 43-year-old Catriona will be running the 5.5-mile route. She said: 'I've worked at SCIAF for just over three years but SCIAF has been part of my life as long as I can remember.
'The Wee Box was a prominent feature in my house growing up. It's a privilege to work for SCIAF and to be surrounded by a group of dedicated and passionate colleagues.
'I'm excited to run together as a team for the Edinburgh marathon relay, raising awareness and funding for the incredible work SCIAF and our partners do overseas.
'It's been great fun training alongside and motivating each other and it's a bonus that I've had to get off the sofa and get fitter to hopefully do SCIAF proud on the day.'
And Catriona went onto explain: 'My children Joshua and Iris have been my cheerleaders and personal trainers and my training plan has focused mainly on trying to keep up with them on their bikes.'
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