For the past two decades, Archie MacGregor (64) has laced up his running shoes with a purpose that goes far beyond the finish line. He is soon to complete his 20th marathon in 20 years, to raise vital funds for sight loss charity, RNIB.
With the London Marathon approaching in April, Archie is close to reaching his lifetime fundraising target of £26,200- a sum mirroring the traditional 26.2 mile marathon distance.
Archie’s son, now 33, was supported by RNIB Scotland’s Youth Group as a child, taking part in various activities such as rock climbing, abseiling, and water sports, all made accessible for the group.
“The youth group was brilliant for my son and helping him build confidence and independence,” says Archie. “The team were so supportive of all the kids there and the impact they’ve made has really stayed with us over the years.”
After sustaining an injury during his first marathon in Edinburgh in 2005, Archie took a break from running before returning to complete the New York Marathon in 2007. That race sparked a new challenge- taking on the World Marathon Majors. Over the years, he has completed marathons in London, Berlin, New York, Chicago, Boston, and Tokyo after it was added to the series.
“Since then, I’ve added many more cities to my list including Stockholm, Zagreb, Paris, Bucharest, and Milwaukee- it’s a great way to see the world,” says Archie. “In 2012, I ran Boston and London within six days of each other- and learned the hard way to stick to my training programme!
“The experience is different every time though- in Tokyo, we were all at the starting line shivering at 0°C, whereas Boston was 29°C and people were being treated for heat exhaustion! It can be a real test of your will and endurance.”
As he prepares to take on London once again, Archie is looking forward to celebrating the milestone of 20 marathons in 20 years. “The RNIB cheer squad always give us a boost- you can’t miss them! We always have a celebration together at the end.
“This is my way of giving back for their support they gave my son, and thanks to unbelievable generosity from family, friends and colleagues I’m now really close to my goal.”
To donate to Archie’s 20/20 challenge, visit his JustGiving page:
https://www.justgiving.com/page/archie-macgregor-1728228093908
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