When ScotRail engineer Kevin Robertson realised the new lockdown measures were going to make it hard for him to keep on track with his weight-loss programme, he decided to take drastic action.
The 37 year-old from Greenock, who was piling on lockdown pounds, pledged to run five kilometres every day throughout January, which is like running from Glasgow to Edinburgh and back.
Kevin admits his New Year resolution would probably have been derailed if his wife hadn’t suggested doing it for a good cause.
ScotRail engineer Kevin, said:
“Lynda said to me that if I was going to run five kilometres every day in the ice and snow, I needed something to motivate me. So, she suggested I raise money for Ardgowan Hospice in my home town of Greenock.
“And, it worked. When I was feeling like I couldn’t be bothered to get out of bed to go for a run in the freezing cold all I had to do was remember the help and bereavement counselling the hospice has given my family over the last six years since my sister Nicole died.”
Father-of-two Kevin, who works at ScotRail’s Shields Road depot in Glasgow, has been varying his routes around Greenock so that he doesn’t get sick of pounding the same streets every day.
The initial target was to raise £300 for the hospice, but with only a few days left to go in the challenge, Kevin has smashed that and can’t wait to see how much people have donated to the fund.
Kevin, who’s worked for ScotRail for two and a half years, said:
“I keep telling myself, ‘you can do this,’ and so far, so good.
“I just make sure I don’t hit the snooze button on the alarm when it goes off in the morning and I have my running gear right by the bed to get into as soon as I get up, so, no excuses!”
Ardgowan Hospice opened in 1981 to support people at the end of their life with personalised 1:1 care. The hospice also supports them, their families and carers from the moment they are diagnosed with a life-limiting illness such as cancer, heart failure, COPD and neurological conditions.
Elaine McNeill, Ardgowan Hospice Fundraising Officer, said:
"We really appreciate Kevin's efforts and wish him all the best with his challenge.
“Ardgowan Hospice are so very grateful, and all monies raised will be used to support patients and their families within Inverclyde throughout 2021."