Caithness player of the year to run half marathon for Sophie’s Story
The top marksman in Caithness amateur football has set a new goal for himself – to raise hundreds of pounds after the daughter of a fellow player was diagnosed with a rare and life-limiting degenerative genetic disorder.
James Murray is running the Inverness Half Marathon next month to support Sophie’s Story, set up for little Sophie Mason who has Batten disease (CLN1). Her dad is Keith Mason, a member of Clachnacuddin’s coaching staff in the Highland League and club captain of amateur side Avoch.
Murray scored the winning goal for Pentland United when they defeated Avoch in last year’s Highland Amateur Cup final.
As a father-of-two, Murray says he is keen to support the Mason family. He describes the diagnosis as “the most devastating news any parent could imagine”.
“It’s a very rare condition,” he said. “It’s the not knowing, with the timescale.
“Having two kids myself, I’d like to help Keith and his family make memories.”
The 33-year-old from Thurso has set a £500 target on his JustGiving page and by the middle of this week £380 had been pledged.
Mason announced that he would be stepping away from football to prioritise time with his family following Sophie’s diagnosis in November aged 17 months.
The Batten Disease Family Association (BDFA) estimates that between one and three children in the UK are diagnosed with an infantile form of the disease, CLN1, each year. There is no treatment.
It causes progressive vision loss, seizures, disturbed sleep, stiff muscles, myoclonic jerks, loss of motor function, loss of the ability to swallow, resulting in tube feeding, and increased risk of respiratory infections.
A statement from Mason said: “On November 13 my wife [Lizzie] and I received the most horrific news a parent could ever imagine. Our beautiful daughter Sophie has been diagnosed with a rare, degenerative disorder called Batten disease (CLN1).
“Although Sophie is currently in good health, we have started to see signs that her condition is progressing. Currently there is no treatment available for CLN1, therefore her condition will continue to deteriorate and her life will slowly be taken away from her, then the time will come for us to kiss her goodnight for the last time.
“I have taken a step back from football to be with my family so that we can focus on making memories together and helping Sophie to write her own unique story in life.”
A Facebook page called Sophie’s Story has been set up to raise awareness of Batten disease and highlight fundraising opportunities.
The Masons also have a GoFundMe page. The message on it says: “Our primary focus is to make Sophie’s life as fulfilled and comfortable as we possibly can. As a family we will endeavour to create as many memories with her while she is still able.
“Yes, her life may not be as we had expected, but we will make sure that Sophie gets to live her own unique story.”
The Inverness Half Marathon takes place on Sunday, March 9. Murray, who works as a scaffolder at Dounreay, will be taking part for the second year in a row.
He would like to beat his time from 2024 of two hours and nine minutes but is making no promises.
“As long as I finish, I’ll be happy,” he said. “I’m not a fan of running but I’m trying to get back into it.”
Murray had an exceptional season in 2024, ending up as top scorer in Caithness amateur football with 39 goals and winning the player of the year award for CAFA Division One.
As well as heading in the winner in the Highland Amateur Cup final, his goals helped the Stabbies regain the county league title. He said: “Most people would just retire after that!”
However, Murray intends to keep on playing for a few more years and will look to add a few more to the 278 goals he has scored so far for the Dunnet club.
He pointed out: “In three years’ time I’ll be 20 years at the Stabbs – 2008 was my first season.”
Murray is also part of Golspie Sutherland’s squad in the North Caledonian League.