Caithness amateur football team, Pentland United, raised over £5000 running for 24 hours to support Sophie’s Story.
Sophie has Batten disease. It’s a rare and tough illness. Her dad, Keith Mason, coaches football. The players ran about 160 miles total, wanting to support Sophie and her family.
Twenty-four people from the club took part. Someone ran every hour, all day and night. They started Saturday at 6 PM and by Monday, they had raised over £5000!
Sam Mackay thought of the fundraiser. The team quickly supported him. They hoped to raise only £750 at first, and were amazed by the final amount. People from everywhere helped out.
The weather varied each day. Saturday night was easier for running, but Sunday’s weather was pretty rough. Runners kept pushing hard. Sam ran at 5 AM Sunday.
Michael Miller joined Sam to help him keep going early in the morning. It can be hard running at that hour. The weather was okay that morning; it could indeed have been worse.
Michael Gray and others joined in too. Andy Brims finished at the Northern Sands Hotel. Sam said that it was a good closing to the run. The run helped the team bond, focusing as they did on raising money.
Pentland United played Avoch last year in the Highland Amateur Cup final. United won 2-1, and Keith Mason scored for Avoch. Sophie’s parents started Sophie’s Story.
They want to improve Sophie’s life. James Murray is also running for Sophie’s Story in the Inverness Half Marathon. He also scored the winning goal earlier in the Cup.
Batten disease is very serious. One to three UK kids get it each year. There’s currently no cure or real treatment. It causes lots of problems; vision loss and seizures are some of the symptoms.
The club wants to help Sophie’s family make good memories. It sounds like a really great thing they did. They are doing all that they can.