Man goes the distance for charity
Published: September 25, 2004
A former cancer sufferer from Scotland has set off to run four half-marathon in the space of 24 hours for charity.
Findlay Young, 30, originally from Castle Douglas in Dumfries and Galloway, intends to run 13.1 miles in all four UK countries.
He will finish at the Bupa Great North Run in England on Sunday - exactly a year to the day after he was told he had recovered from thyroid cancer.
Mr Young, who lives in London, plans to raise £10,000 for Cancer Research UK.
Flying visits
The management consultant began his challenge with a run in Belfast at 1330 BST on Saturday.
From there he will catch a flight to Prestwick Airport and travel on to his hometown where he is to run his second race of the day at about 1700 BST in nearby Mossdale.
A car will then help take him to Rhyl in Wales and at about 0230 BST on Sunday he is due to begin the third leg of his programme.
When he is finished, a helicopter will help fly him to Newcastle for the start of the Bupa Great North Run which begins at 1040 BST.
Mr Young was diagnosed with cancer in July 2003 after suffering problems with his thyroid gland.
After being given the all-clear his fundraising mission started with a commitment to do the Bupa Great North Run and grew from there.
‘Victory parade’
He said: “I wanted to do an event in my hometown of Castle Douglas.
“Then the idea grew and I thought I’d add Northern Ireland and Wales as well.
“I see the Great North Run as my victory parade.
“I was determined to do it because of the date and I’ll be running with number 2609.
“The event is an important milestone in my recovery from cancer and it’s really given me something to aim for.”
Former long-distance runner and Great North Run Chairman Brendan Foster said Young’s 52.4-mile challenge is an “incredible feat of endurance”.
He said: “We are delighted he will finish his enormous test at the end of the world’s biggest half marathon.
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