30-year-old Security Manager Gary Cannings from Portsmouth is set to take on the Great South Run this coming Sunday (21st), followed by the Hellrunner South challenge on Saturday 24th November.
Pushing himself to the limit over two months, Gary is doing this in support of bereaved Armed Forces charity Scotty’s Little Soldiers, a cause close to his heart.
Founded by war widow Nikki Scott in 2010, Scotty’s Little Soldiers supports children across the UK who have lost a parent while serving in the British Armed Forces. The charity was set up in memory of Nikki’s husband and father to her two children, Corporal Lee Scott, after he was killed in Afghanistan in 2009. Scotty’s Little Soldiers was personally selected this year by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Harry and Meghan, as one of seven charities to receive donations from the Royal Wedding.
Gary has ties to the military, his father served in the Royal Army Ordnance Corps and his brother also served in the Military Police. Alongside this Gary, who only started running seriously last year, has close friends in the military and Scotty’s Little Soldiers really struck a chord with him.
Gary commented: “For me, it was the thought that I know people who were and still are in the military, and it’s so important to have something in place for their kids should anything happen. As soon as I heard about Scotty’s Little Soldiers and the work the charity does, I simply had to contribute and fundraise for such a terrific cause.”
The Great South Run is a 10-mile road race which takes place in Portsmouth this weekend. Following the completion of this run, Gary will then begin training for Hell Runner, the UK’s toughest running challenge which spans over 10 miles of ‘hills, water features and sand-sapping ascents’.
Scotty’s Little Soldiers founder, Nikki Scott, commented: “What Gary is undertaking is no easy feat. We’re very grateful to him for raising money in what promises to be a physically challenging couple of months. We need fundraisers like Gary in order to continue our work, making sure bereaved Armed Forces children are supported.”
To donate, visit Gary’s JustGiving page.
Learn more about Scotty’s Little Soldiers here.
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Notes to editors:
To speak to a member of the Scotty’s Little Soldiers team, please contact Scotty’s national PR agency:
Claire Lomax (claire@wolfstarconsultancy.com)
Chris Grayson (chrisg@wolfstarconsultancy.com)
Fran Wyatt (fran@wolfstarconsultancy.com) or 0113 273 7816.
About Scotty’s Little Soldiers:
Scotty’s Little Soldiers, founded in 2010, honours Corporal Lee Scott’s memory – both as a loyal soldier and a loving father – and provides a practical yet personal way for the public at large to show their appreciation for those brave individuals who make the ultimate sacrifice in the service of their country. Currently Scotty’s Little Soldiers supports 354 bereaved children and runs a variety of programmes to help children smile again and look forward to a brighter future. You can visit the charity online here.
