Friends run Edinburgh Marathon in memory of friend

Jun 1 2012 by Jennifer Buchanan, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

FOUR pals put their best foot forward in memory of their childhood friend.

Graeme Yeudall, Andrew McKinlay, Ross Forsyth, Stuart McKinnell and David ‘Dave’ Macgregor grew up together in Troon.

But five years ago Dave was diagnosed with cancer and died at the age of only 23.

And the four friends took on their biggest challenge to date to raise vital cash in his name for the Ayrshire Hospice, who cared for him at the end.

Stuart, 29, explained: “Dave played rugby for the firsts at Marr College and Marr Rugby club and also in his later years coached the mini rugby.

“We decided that we wanted to do something for the hospice in Dave’s name and since he kept trying to get us to the gym, or something that involved us getting fit, we settled on the challenge of a marathon.

“It started off as six of us one year ago and none of us had ran any distance further than during a game of football or rugby, so to complete a marathon would be a great achievement.

“We ran the Edinburgh 10k last May then trained up for the Great Scottish run in Glasgow in September which was a half marathon.

“One team member was injured during that and a second team member dropped out following a skiing injury which left the four of us to do the marathon.”

But Stuart, Graeme, Andrew and Ross did their friend proud.

For despite having to battle the soaring Scottish temperatures, three of the men completed the 26 miles in just over four-and-a-half hours.

Stuart said: “Andrew knew he would be over five hours so we just left him to it. Graeme, Ross and myself tried to stay together but ended up losing one another at one of the water stops.

“It was hard going with the heat but it was good.”

Stuart completed the marathon first in his group with a time of 4hr 33min 23sec, Graeme arrived second in 4hr 41min 31sec, Ross came third with 4hr 59min 50sec and Andrew finished in 5hr 26min 48sec.

The guys’ hope was to raise £1000 but have already surpassed that with an impressive total of over £1600.

However, every little helps and anyone wishing to donate can do so at www.justgiving.com/Edinburgh-Marathon-For-Ayrshire-Hospice

Everything raised will be doubled by the companies the men work for.