EXPAT John McGurk plans to run 560-miles from Germany to Glasgow in a kilt to raise £30,000 for a Scots charity after hearing that one in three children are living in poverty.
The 54-year-old papermill worker, himself a survivor of childhood abuse, will take on the challenge to raise money for Children 1st along with six others to run non-stop from his hometown of Osnabruek in Germany to Glasgow next June.
John said: “I may live in Germany but I’m still a proud Scotsman.”
For the past 24 years the Glaswegian has raised nearly €1 million for children’s charities across the world through his own charity group called Sportler 4 a children’s world.
John’s charity has around 230 members and each year he organises a running event from Osnabruek to a world-wide destination.
The former squaddie has travelled all over the world including Africa, New York, Warsaw, Jerusalem and Brazil but next year he’ll be heading home to Scotland running the equivalent of a marathon a day.
John said: “It has been in my heart all the time to do something in Scotland but the time wasn’t right to do it – I had to be able to raise money.
“The thing that really tipped it was I read that one in three children in Scotland live in poverty.
“I couldn’t get my head round that. I know these children have so much potential, they must be given the chance.
“I chose Children 1st because they work with abused children and those whose lives are blighted by poverty.”
John’s run will take him through Germany, Holland, Newcastle, Lockerbie, Kelso, Kinbuck, Edinburgh and Glasgow.
Children 1st chief executive Alison Todd said: “John’s story is truly inspiring. Despite experiencing the worst abuse imaginable at the hands of those who were meant to care for him, he is determined to do all he can to support young people who are facing adversity and challenge.”
To support John’s venture visit justgiving.com/1in3run or you can make a £5 donation by texting WEAN55.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here