Meadows Marathon runners put the fun into fundraising

A RECORD number of runners will step out tomorrow to take part in the Meadows Marathon.

Organisers of the annual half marathon and 5km fun run say almost 1,000 people have signed up to take part, raising money for a range of charities including Sports Relief.

The event, entirely organised by students, takes runners on several laps of the Meadows, with a loop around Bristo Square and George Square. Participants and spectators will be entertained by cheerleaders, bhangra dancers, drummers and brass bands.

Among those taking part are physiology students Toby Murray, 20, and Alex Johnson, 24, who will dress as sumo wrestlers and run to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support.

Mr Murray said: "There's a history of cancer in my family – I lost my cousin, Clara, to a brain tumour about four years ago when she was 18, so I'm running it for her family and for my parents. Ever since then my mum's really got into Macmillan. I've helped them to fundraise in the past, so it made sense to do this for them."

The pair decided that simply running the half marathon was not enough of a challenge and decided to don sumo suits to make the race tougher and inject a sense of fun into the day.

Joining them on the course will be runners hoping to raise 8,500 for student charity the European Global Partnership, which supports vulnerable children in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

The group also decided to brighten up their race by dressing as fruit and veg. Linguistics student (and pineapple) Jenny Skene, 21, said: "We work with a charity called Children and Young Persons Protection and Development who work with vulnerable children. I went two years ago and they're a brilliant charity. They do brilliant work with street children, child labourers, children who work in mines, or have been abused by their parents. They're putting on a summer camp for them to get away from their everyday working lives."

Other runners will be raising funds for a range of charities including the Meningitis Research Foundation, Scottish Love in Action and Age Concern and Help the Aged Scotland.

Race organiser Alexandra Budge said: "We just really want lots of people to come and support the runners. They're doing it for so many good causes.

"I think it's going to be a really great day, and the entertainment looks like it's going to be really good."

The 5km race begins at 11am and the half marathon at noon, with George Square and George Square Lane closed to traffic from 10am until 3:30pm.

• www.meadowsmarathon.org.uk

• www.justgiving.com/egpmongolia2010