An inspirational Irvine man with multiple sclerosis travelled to Scandinavia to run in the 42.5km Marathon of Dangers.
Kieran Donnelly, 35, was diagnosed with relapsing MS in 2017, but it hasn’t stopped him retraining for a new job, taking up running again and raising funds for MS Society Scotland.
Kieran said: “This year has been a really big year for me in general.
“I was training as an ambulance technician when I was first diagnosed with MS and I’m now fully qualified, so a lot of the time I would have spent training for the marathon has been put into studying for my new job.
“MS fatigue can make training quite challenging, but I’ve adapted to it. I used to take the approach of just running as far as I could, but obviously that’s not the most practical thing now.
“My sister-in-law is running the marathon with me and my brother is running the 10k too which has been really encouraging.
“I was a keen runner when I was younger but, like a lot of people, I became a lazy teenager.
“I started getting back into running just after I got my diagnosis and decided that as long as I’m fit and able to, I will constantly go out there and fund-raise.
“My goal is to do at least one event a year.
“I’ve met other people with MS who need support and it’s something I can contribute to.”
Over 11,000 people in Scotland live with MS which damages nerves in your body and makes it harder to do everyday things, like walk, talk, eat and think. Morna Simpkins, director of MS Society Scotland, said: “A huge thank you to Kieran for pushing himself to raise funds and awareness for MS Society Scotland by running in the Vaarojen Marathon.
“MS can be relentless, painful and exhausting and with the support of our dedicated network of fundraisers we will keep fighting to make life better for people with the condition, through research, campaigning and support.”
The Vaarojen Marathon or the Marathon of Dangers takes place in Koli National Park, Finland.
The Marathon of Dangers is particularly challenging as participants run on trails around lakes, over rocks, and through forests and rivers.
To sponsor Kieran in his marathon quest, please visit: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/kieran-donnelly9
