Fun runners brave the cold for hospice funds

Dec 4 2008 by Alastair McNeill, Hamilton Advertiser

Fun runners brave the cold for hospice funds

MORE than 1200 runners took part in a fun event at the weekend in aid of St Andrew’s Hospice.

The cold weather didn’t put off runners, joggers and walkers for the St Andrew’s Day Saltire 6K Fun Run at Strathclyde Park.

Ex-Celtic captain Tom Boyd was in the front row at the start and Airdrie United players Stephen McKenna and Matty Hazley brought along the Alba Cup which their team won recently by beating Ross County.

Experienced runners were joined by pensioners, primary and secondary school pupils and tots for the family event.

Hamilton man Robert Gilroy was one of the first three runners home along with Craig Wellcoat from Motherwell and Kevin Kane from Cumbernauld.

The first three female runners through the finishing line were Jessie Miller from Motherwell, Joanne McAvoy from East Kilbride and Roisin Bonucchi from Pool of Muckhart, Clackmannanshire.

Children who took part in the run, some wearing fancy dress, were from schools which included Lanark High, Larkhall Academy, Lesmahagow High, Hamilton’s John Ogilvie High and Motherwell’s Taylor High.

St Andrew’s Hospice cares for 120 patients from across the county each week and the event is expected to raise £20,000 for the charity.

Hospice fund-raising director Sam Lavery thanked North Lanarkshire Council and Scottish and Universal Newspapers for their support, along with the Saltire Group who sponsored the event.