County’s runners make bid for world record
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A GUINNESS world record attempt passing through Caithness on Monday is to bolstered by local supporters roped in by a Wick woman.
RelayGB is a new charity fundraising event with hundreds of runners currently attempting to cover 2600 miles around Britain in over 100 nonstop marathons to break the world record for distance relay running, all while raising £500,000 in aid of Brain Tumour UK.
Leading the charge through Wick town centre on Monday will be brain tumour charity champion Carolyn Pierpont (33), who has gathered up her old school friends to help break the record.
Wick-born Carolyn and her partner, Mark Toshney (32), who has first-hand experience of being diagnosed with a brain tumour, will be sharing the 26-mile Castletown to Wick leg.
“Mark and I are extremely proud to be running in RelayGB to raise awareness of this formidable cancer,” said Carolyn.
“We have to keep the brain tumour cause in the public eye, we have to educate people about the signs and symptoms, we have to keep the level of awareness up if we are to win the fight against brain tumours.”
On the last mile of the marathon leg, recently re-elected councillor Gail Ross will be joining her friend Carolyn, who now lives in Montrose, on a section of the run from St Fergus Church in Wick up to around Harmsworth Park at South Road.
“I’m extremely honoured to be asked to take part by Carolyn and to help her and others raise money for brain tumour research,” said Gail.
“If people see us passing please give us a cheer.”
Also running the route in Caithness is the Caithness Can Cans team made up of local ladies, most of them Carolyn’s old school friends. Karen Sinclair, Angela Gunn, Lauren Edgar, Jennifer Scott and Karen Wares should be taking the baton from Carolyn, Mark and Gail to run down the next east coast leg.
The final Can Cans team member is Chris Macleod who is to tackle the Berriedale Braes.
“Some of the girls are also doing the Mey 10k on the Sunday but through sheer dedication and friendship are supporting us on the Monday as well,” explained Carolyn.
“Lauren will also be running a second leg down in Johnshaven with Mark and myself and we will hand the baton over to legendary runner Liz McColgan.”
McColgan, who has won Olympic and Commonwealth medals for distance running, will cover the 26 miles between Arbroath and St Andrews, passing through Dundee and crossing the Tay on May 16 before handing over to the next set of runners.
Each runner will be asked to raise whatever they can for Brain Tumour UK.
“The day we were told Mark had a cancerous brain tumour will haunt us for the rest of our lives,” said Carolyn.
“However, we have to take the positive from it and look to what we can do to make a difference.”
“There are so many of my close friends in Caithness who have joined us in raising awareness of this formidable cancer, it is truly touching to see and Mark and I will be forever in their debt.”
Carolyn and company hope to pass through Wick town centre with a piper around 1.30pm on Monday.
The event is due to finish on May 24 in London.
