An ex-gunner from 26th Regiment Royal Artillery who has raised more than £600,000 for charity by running marathons has announced his retirement.

Dougie McInnes, a former staff sergeant who is now 60, has finally hung up his running shoes after completing his 50th marathon and raising over £26,151 for the Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society in New York last year.

Daughter Lisa McFadyen, who lives in Gütersloh, said: “I am so proud of him because he did not start marathon racing until he was 34 and has achieved so much. To run is an incredible thing but to raise that amount of money whilst doing it, is amazing.”

Despite being downgraded after breaking his ankle so severely as a young gunner that doctors told him he would never run again, Glasgow-born Dougie never gave up.

Now living in Hampshire, Dougie said: “I started running to prove not just to the doctors but to myself that I wasn’t ready for the scrap heap. At first I could barely walk but I knew that hard work and determination was the only way to see results so I kept on going and gradually increased the distance and speed of my runs.”

Dougie continued: “In those days if you were down graded you could not be considered for promotion and were paid less money than fit soldiers. I had a wife and three young children to look after so getting back to physical fitness was my priority.”

After four years of hard work and determination the amazed doctors declared Dougie fully fit and he was able to return to work, was eligible for promotion and rose to the rank of staff sergeant.

Dougie’s career progressed just as impressively as his marathon times; his fastest marathon being Glasgow in 1983 with the phenomenal time of 03.17.43.

From competing in his first marathon at age 34 to completing his 49th and penultimate marathon at 42 it is estimated that Dougie raised a massive £600,000 for a number of charities ranging from Cancer Research UK, the Children’s Cancer Hospice in Belfast, the British Heart Foundation and various Forces’ charities.

Despite having hung up his running shoes for almost 20 years, Dougie found himself competing in one last event at the ripe old age of 59, when his wife Linda was diagnosed with MS.

Dougie said “When Linda was first diagnosed it was horrendous. This was something that happened to other people and not to us. I couldn’t just sit there and let it beat us so I decided to tackle MS head on and set myself the target of raising £25,000 in 12 months which would go towards finding a cure for this life- changing disease.

“Linda and I have been married for 40 years and she has always been there for me. She almost single handedly raised our three children as I was either on exercise in Northern Ireland or working.

“I just wanted to prove to her how much I love her and appreciate all that she has done for me. Running is the only way I know to prove your commitment and depth of feeling for something.”

Despite being told he would never run again as a young soldier, Dougie completed the New York Marathon in an impressive 05.27.14 and achieved his fund-raising goal. The money raised was split between the Portsmouth and Chichester branches of the MS Society and the Head Office in London and Dougie has vowed not to run again.

Proud daughter Lisa said: “I don’t think this will be the end to his fund-raising, but even he has realised that he is too old to carry on running. He will probably come up with a weird and wonderful idea to raise more cash.”

By Kath Brown

Back to top

A number of BFG based physical training instructors travelled to the French Alps to take part in the grueling Alpe d'Huez
Triathlon as part of the Army Physical Training Corps 150th anniversary commemorations recently.

To recognise this milestone year in the corps' history, physical trainers throughout the Army have embarked upon a number
of expeditions and physical challenges in homage to their professions.

12 soldiers including three from BFG took part in the fifth EDF Alpe d'Huez event which is seen as one of the toughest tests of triathlon in Europe. The competitors faced heat, altitude and steep climbs as they took on a 2.2km swim in the ice-cold Lake Verney, followed by a 115km cycle up the all-category-climb, finishing off with a 22km run at 1.700 metres altitude.

The cycle leg was made famous due to its legendary 21 hair pin bends which has seen world class cyclists such as Lance Armstrong and Greg Lamond battle for victory in the renowned Tour de France.

SSgt Dean Folley based with 51 AEC in Gutersloh took part in the triathlon and speaking to sixth-Sense about how tough it was he said:

'Dealing with the emotion of the hills on the bike, followed by a 22km run with cramp would defeat most people. This year my aim was to complete the event, but with the knowledge I have gained during the race and with some specific training designed around a course of this nature next time I would like to do it to competitively'.

The race was a challenge for all its competitors but none more so than for WO2 Lisa Dunne who only returned from Op Herrick 21, days before the event.

'Having only just completed a six month operational tour I couldn't fully prepare myself as I would have liked. The lack of a swimming pool meant my swimming was nowhere near as good as I would have liked it to be. Fortunately, I managed to cram in some training here in France during my post-tour leave which enabled me to get round in a very respectable 10 hours and 20 minutes which is faster than I'd hoped. I found the bike the toughest of the three disciplines followed by wobbly legs as I began the run. But the head took me where the legs didn't want to'.

Event organiser, Maj Ian Phillips APTC, was delighted with the performance from all the soldiers and reflected upon how the challenge was a fitting event to commemorate the APTC's 150th year.

'I thought it was apt to take a group of our fittest PTI's and take on a tough physical challenge. The Alpe d'Huez Triathlon is as demanding as it gets and took everyone well-outside their comfort zones. The final climb up the 21 bends to the village of Alpe d'Huez was a daunting finish to the bike leg especially knowing you face a half marathon at altitude immediately after you step off the bike. The look of satisfaction and relief on the faces of all the finishers was priceless and confirmed we had picked the right event,' he added.

By Tracy Phillips

All articles courtesy of Sixth-Sense Newspaper

Back to top