A Paisley runner is taking to the streets of Belfast and Glasgow to raise money for charity by completing two half marathons in two weeks.
Avid athlete John MacAskill will be collecting money for Accord Hospice, a charity close to his heart after his mother was cared for there in 1993.
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The 59-year-old says raising money for the Paisley charity is something he is proud to do and his first race was in 2010, which was the Accord Hospice 5K.
He said: “I am really excited to see the start line over in Belfast as Accord is a charity that has done a lot for my family.
“The hospice cared for my mum in 1993 and they were fantastic with her, so I think of this as me giving a little back to them.
“As my partner is from Belfast, I spend most weekends over there. So to be running in two cities that mean a lot to me and my family is a great honour.
“I have never run in Glasgow before, so that will be a special moment.”
John was born in Glasgow before moving to Johnstone as a child. He now lives in Foxbar and has one son, John, 26, and two grandchildren, Charlotte, five, and Charlie, one.
He will be running the Belfast race on Sunday, before taking part in Glasgow’s half marathon on October 2.
He said: “When I cross that finish line, it will be a touching moment for me and my family and something that I will be proud of.
“I grew up around Glasgow, so I will be passing places that I have passed for many a year throughout my life. I am really looking forward to it.”
John’s running career looked like it may have ended in 2021 after the 59-year-old had to go for keyhole surgery, having suffered pain in his knee.
The doctors had related the injury to a leg break that he had suffered many years ago and was told that there would be no more running.
However, after successful surgery and seeing a physio five times a week, John has been building his fitness back up and this will be his first race since the operation.
Reflecting on his recovery, John said: “It was hard, but I knew that it was going to be. I took my training in blocks and started off small and built it up from there.
“The physios I went to were excellent and the exercises I was given are something I still do to this day.
“I have practised running the distance many times now and I know that I can do it. However, it is still at the back of my mind, the doubt, if I’m going to finish the marathon.”
If you would like to donate to John’s fundraiser, visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/john-macaskill6
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