RUN THE FIVE FERRIES CHALLENGE..?!

Now fitness fanatic Frank Gilroy, senior Hampden Sports Clinic physios Allan Kershaw and Neil Robinson and Frank’s Cy-Run team are to RUN the route, to raise money for The Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice. Frank and his charity fundraising team of runners are taking on the epic Five Ferries Challenge route on foot on 18 May. If that’s not an incredible accomplishment on its own, it will also bring their fundraising total for the hospice up to a phenomenal £125,000. “I’ve made record-breaking winning times in the Great Scottish Run and London Marathon, dressed as Harvey the hospice mascot, and the team has cycled from Glasgow to London,” said Frank, 54, from Giffnock, East Renfrewshire. “Now we have decided to finish in style by running the Five Ferries Challenge route. And we’re encouraging as many people as possible to join us on the way, either running the whole route or part of the way with us.” The demanding fitness feat starts with the ferry from Ardrossan to Brodick, then a 14-mile run to Lochranza. There’s a brief rest on the ferry to Clonaig, then a 10-mile run to Tarbet. After the ferry to Portavadie, it’s a 19-mile gruelling run to Colintraive, a ferry to Rhuboddach, an eight-mile run to Rothesay and a well-earned chance to rest their weary legs on the ferry back to Wemyss Bay. It should take about 12 hours with more than eight hours of that running. Frank, Allan and Neil will be running with four other members of Cy-Run – as well as Pepper the dog. They started raising money for the hospice’s £21million capital appeal to build a new home in Bellahouston Park more than five years ago. The idea was to raise £70,000 to fund two treatment rooms for patients, with one named after Frank’s late wife Kathleen. The total went up to £115,000 and now he hopes to raise a massive £125,000 for the hospice, with about £7000 being raised on this challenge. “I love doing challenges and running and wanted to do something for a Glasgow charity that didn’t discriminate and was there for everyone,” said Frank. “We have had a lot of fun over the years.” The new hospice, set in a 7.5-acre site in Bellahouston Park, will lead the way in palliative care, offering a gold standard of care and support to 1200 new patients and families every year in a purpose-built facility. To make a donation to boost Frank’s fundraising, visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/harveylondonmarathon. Caroline Watson, the hospice’s education and challenges fundraiser, said Frank’s support of the hospice has been amazing. “The members of the Cy-Run team have been incredible supporters of the hospice in their fundraising and always like to participate in extreme challenges – this one is no different,” said Caroline. “They have nearly reached their target of fundraising £125,000 for the new hospice and we hope everyone will get behind them to push the team over the line with this amazing challenge.”