‘I wanted to support a charity that my Nana would have been proud of’
Have you ever thought you’d like to run a marathon? For many people it’s on their bucket list, but they just haven’t got round to it yet.
For some people the incentive that turns their dream into reality is taking part to support a charity close to their heart. And at Age Scotland we are delighted that this year’s Edinburgh Marathon Festival included a dedicated team of fundraisers who chose to raise money for us, the Scottish charity for older people.
It’s always an honour when someone uses their valuable time to train and raise funds to help Age Scotland. The money they contribute goes directly to supporting our services for older people, including friendship services and our free helpline available for advice, support and information.
Every one of our fundraisers has their own reasons for choosing Age Scotland. Some have witnessed the support Age Scotland has given an older relative, others have read about our work campaigning and influencing on behalf of older people.
We asked the EMF Age Scotland fundraising team about their experiences of the race and their reasons for supporting us.
Douglas, a ScotRail employee, said:
“My legs were sore afterwards but much better now!
I really enjoyed being part of the Age Scotland Edinburgh marathon team, you have been incredibly supportive and engaging, and I really appreciated the goody bag and handwritten card with the personalised message.
It was also nice chatting with the other participants on the WhatsApp group.
Thank you for making it a memorable experience, and I hope that a sizeable amount has been raised”.
Community fundraiser, Chris said:
“I wanted to choose a cause that holds personal meaning for me, rather than one of the more common charities. Recently, my son’s teacher had his class create Christmas cards to send to a retirement home. I have various family members in retirement homes and the people in there are the best, that's what made me decide Age Scotland is perfect for me to help”.
“I’m running to raise money for Age Scotland, an incredible charity. Having relatives in nursing homes has given me a deep appreciation for the challenges involved in providing care. I’ve witnessed the incredible dedication of staff throughout the years who go above and beyond to support older people and improve their quality of life. Beyond that, Age Scotland provides vital support to older people, their families, and carers through advice, community initiatives, and advocacy”.
Annabelle, another community fundraiser, said:
“I first became interested in running in 2020, and since then, I’ve been setting running goals. Last year, I ran the Edinburgh Half Marathon and loved it, so taking on the full marathon felt like the natural next step. I’ve chosen to run for Age Scotland because I wanted to support a charity that my Nana would have been proud of. I was very close with her until she sadly passed away in December 2023”.
And Conor, a community fundraiser and NHS worker, said:
“I work in mental health for the NHS in Dumfries & Galloway supporting NHS staff, and have heard from both colleagues and clients about the great work that Age Scotland does. Also, back when I started running at the age of 19, I was volunteering at a local nursing home, it seemed appropriate and somewhat a full circle moment to raise money for older people all these years later as I finally partake in a full marathon”.
If our fundraisers’ stories have inspired you, you can apply to take part in next year’s London Marathon in the link below. We’d love to hear from you!
