2 days ago
Stirling 10k teams up with suicide prevention charity in tribute to Commonwealth Games runner
Central Athletic Club has been organising the Stirling 10K for 24 years and this year the event will be held in honour of former member and Commonwealth Games athlete Ali Hay.
Stirling's annual 10k road race is partnering with a local suicide prevention charity to pay tribute to a beloved runner who once represented Scotland at the Commonwealth Games.
The Podfather Stirling 10k, along with its associated 2k and 3.5k fun runs, will collaborate with the Callander-based Canmore Trust – a charity that assists individuals grappling with suicidal thoughts and families who have suffered the loss of loved ones to suicide.
Stirling's Central Athletic Club (Central AC), which organises the race each year, has chosen to form this partnership in memory of Central AC athlete Ali Hay, whose tragic death in June last year deeply affected club members.
Ali's sudden passing sent shockwaves through the entire Scottish athletics community.
During his career, Ali proudly wore the blue vest of Scotland, representing the nation in the 1500 metres at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India.
He also had the honour of carrying the Commonwealth baton ahead of the games in Glasgow in 2014.
A long-standing member of Central AC, he also clinched gold at the National Cross Country (National XC) twice.
His untimely death left his family, friends and clubmates reeling. However, they have now united to honour his legacy at this year's Stirling 10k.
Lewis Millar from the Stirling 10K organising committee expressed his pride in honouring Ali at this year's race.
He remarked: "This year, we are proud to be working in partnership with The Canmore Trust, a local charity that supports people experiencing suicidal thoughts and families who have lost loved ones to suicide.
"The charity is particularly close to our hearts, following the tragic loss of Ali Hay in June last year.
"Ali was a lifelong Central AC member, a valued part of our organising team, and a much-loved friend to many in the local running community."
He continued: "Supporting The Canmore Trust is a way for us to honour his memory and raise awareness of the vital work they do."
The Scottish athletics community offered touching tributes to Ali at the time of hios death. Dunblane Olympian Andy Butchart, who was close to Ali, labelled him as his "inspiration".
In addition, Central AC, where Mr Hay was a life-long member, commended him as an "outstanding performer" and stressed that he was "an even better friend to all whom knew him".
Scottish Athletics, the sport's governing body, hailed him as a "towering figure" within the Scottish athletics landscape.
Further homage came from another friend and Central AC teammate, Michael Wright, who has been running alongside Ali for over two decades and twice clinched the Stirling marathon title. He said: "A 'legend' is a clichéd term, but not for Ali Hay."
Ali passed away at the age of 38, leaving behind his wife Lynsey and their two young sons.
This year's 10k race, set for Sunday, September 7, will see a flood of avid runners pounding the pavements in a bid to clinch the top spot. Completely coordinated by a team of dedicated volunteers from Central AC, all proceeds from the race are channelled back into fostering grassroots athletics locally.
Lewis added: "Our goal is to encourage as many members of the local community as possible to join us on the day. Our 10k has grown over the years and is now one of the largest volunteer organised running events in the country. We are about to hit 1000 entries which is well ahead of where we were for last years event.
"In addition to the main 10K race, which has a participant cap of 1,200 runners, we offer a 2K fun run for ages 5–9 and a 3.5K run for ages 10–14. To boost the family-friendly atmosphere, there will be free face painting, bouncy castles, and even an Alpaca for post-race selfies!".
"While there are several newer running events in the Stirling area, most are commercially organised. Ours stands apart as a completely volunteer-run event, with a strong focus on community, inclusion, and giving back and we are also in our 24th year of organising the run."
For those keen to get a slice of the action, additional information on this year's race can be found here.
