Arbroath lollipop lady Mary Towns is ready to tackle a special school run this weekend when she lines up in the London marathon.
Just five years after falling in love with long-distance running, Mary is using the 26-mile capital challenge to raise funds for an important Tayside cause and as an inspirational stepping stone for children at the town’s Warddykes primary where she is a firm favourite with pupils, parents and staff.
The bubbly 44-year-old is an enthusiastic member of Arbroath Footers running club and leads the group’s Couch to 5k class for running newcomers.
Mary has also signed the Warddykes pupils up for a special online event which she has devised, in the hope it will be a step along the road to the school becoming part of the run a mile a day craze which is sweeping the country.
Mary said: “I’m running the marathon for MS Therapy Tayside in support of a friend who has MS and the fantastic work that is done at the centre in Dundee.
“I’ve also created a virtual run, which people can sign up to through facebook and it is encouraging people to do 100 miles in the month of May, which they can share with friends, colleagues, or as we are doing here, involve all of the pupils in the school.”
Mary has completed around a dozen marathons in the likes of London, Edinburgh and Liverpool and has also tackled the gruelling Lairig Ghru ultra race between Aviemore and Braemar.
She’ll be tying a Spongebob balloon to her running top of Sunday so the Warddykes children can pick her out in the massive London field and is hopeful the event will fire the youngsters’ enthusiasm for the weeks and months ahead.
“The message I’m trying to get across to the children through the virtual run and the mile a day idea is that everyone can run and you can get so much enjoyment out of it,” added Mary.
“I love my job as the lollipop lady here and I’m so keen to try to encourage the children to get involved in a sport which I enjoy so much. Running is a fantastic thing for keeping them fit, happy and really building their confidence.”
Warddykes headtacher Alison Galloway said: “The kids love Mary, she is such an asset to our school and the enthusiasm all comes from her.”
