RNLI volunteer swaps London for Stonehaven in helmet-wearing Marathon run
A Stonehaven RNLI volunteer will run 26.2 miles this Sunday (4 October) wearing his RNLI helmet and a lifejacket to raise funds for the lifesaving charity.
Duncan MacKintosh was due to fly south to London back in April to complete the London Marathon for a second time, but lockdown restrictions due to the Coronavirus pandemic meant that the 2020 event was cancelled.
Not to be put off, Duncan has planned a route and upped the ante by electing to complete his gruelling marathon effort in the helmet he wears afloat as an RNLI volunteer in the town.
Having raised over £1,200 so far, and with his employer, BP, set to double all monies raised, Duncan hopes to encourage others to support the charity he gives his time up for as volunteer crew members.
Duncan said: ‘It is disappointing but unavoidable that the 2020 London Marathon had to be cancelled due to the Coronavirus pandemic. I was still keen to take part in the marathon in some capacity, buoyed by the determination to raise funds for the charity that saves lives at sea.’
Duncan will set off from Cairn O’ Mount at 8.00am and aims to finish at Stonehaven harbour around midday. Wearing a helmet and lifejacket will not be easy, but Duncan claims the biggest barrier to overcome will be running most of the route alone.
He said: ‘Running with 40,000 others in London and having the support of 60,000 others makes a huge difference. I will not have that this weekend when I leave Cairn O’ Mount and that will be tough.’
Duncan will not be alone for the whole run. Instead, volunteers will join him (socially distanced) on various legs of the route.
Being able to complete his alternative marathon in Stonehaven is a big deal for the RNLI volunteer who has planned the route precisely to finish outside the lifeboat station.
Duncan said: ‘I am delighted to be able to finish my run at Stonehaven harbour, near to my home lifeboat station. Having recently joined the RNLI as a volunteer, I have seen first-hand the work that goes on and I am delighted to support the charity.’RNLI Media Contacts
For more information please contact: Martin Macnamara, Regional Media Officer for Scotland, 07920365929, [email protected] or Gemma McDonald, RNLI Region Media Manager for Scotland, 07826900639, [email protected] or the RNLI press office on 01202 336789.
Key facts about the RNLI
The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,000 lives.
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Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries
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