A MEMBER of Pitreavie AAC has used his love of long-distance running to raise more than £2,000 for Queen Margaret Hospital staff.

Mike Gudgeon, who has been part of the club's endurance section since 2015, embarked on a challenge of running the Fife Coastal Path – a distance of 117 miles – in under 30 hours in April.

In addition to setting himself a personal target, he decided to use the run as an opportunity to raise money as a thank you to members of staff on the COVID-19 wards at the hospital who cared for his mother-in-law prior to her dying from the virus last year.

So far, his efforts have raised £2,215, having set an initial target of £500, with Mike completing the run in a superb time of 26 hours and 52 minutes.

Known within the local running community for his enthusiasm of long-distance trail running, Mike has not only run marathons but also longer ultra races, including the 53-mile Highland Fling; the Cateran Trail, a 55-mile race through Perthshire and Angus; and the 96-mile West Highland Way race.

He had planned originally to run an ultra race in Gran Canaria but, after it was cancelled because of pandemic restrictions, Mike decided to set himself the Fife Coastal Path challenge.

Buddied by a relay of fellow Pitreavie AAC endurance members, he ran through the night on Friday, April 16, from Newburgh to finish at Kincardine early the following morning, completing an incredible physical and mental achievement.

Of his fundraising efforts, Mike said: "The staff were amazingly supportive throughout the time she was on the ward, and at such a difficult time for the family."

Anyone who wishes to contribute can still do so via Mike's Just Giving page, which can be accessed at https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/michael-gudgeon-fcp.