Aztec triumph at Berlin Marathon and smash fundraising target

Sunday 09 October 2016

A group of Islanders have been putting in a marathon effort to raise money for a cancer charity set up by an old colleague.

The team from Aztec Group smashed their £10,000 fundraising target as they joined Colin MacDonald Smith to run the Berlin Marathon at the end of last month and they are planning on doing it all over again next year.

Mr MacDonald Smith set up "Unite Against Cancer" in memory of his brother Christopher who battled Osteosarcoma, a rare form of cancer. He plans to run the race 17 times in memory of the fact his brother died at 17 years-old.

Since Christopher passed away in 2012, Colin has raised over £160,000 and has helped fund the Christopher Douglas Smith Masters Scholarship at the University of Glasgow.

The team from Aztec, along with Colin, finished in good time and have raised a total of £11,780 so far. The team members’ running times ranged from three hours and thirty-four minutes to five hours and thirty-five minutes.

Aztec Group's Marketing Manager Tom Wilkinson said: "It was a fantastic experience and we are very proud to have raised so much for such a worthy cause. The Berlin Marathon is great fun, with supportive crowds and DJs on the side of the track to keep you going, we definitely plan to return next year.

"Aztec Group places a strong focus on supporting causes that are important to our staff, and Unite Against Cancer is one of those charities that deserves every penny."

Unite Against Cancer's Founder Colin MacDonald Smith said: ‘We are so grateful for all the support we receive from Aztec Group, and the money raised from the Berlin Marathon will go a long way in helping the charity move forwards.

"Unite Against Cancer currently funds a cancer research Masters scholarship at the University of Glasgow, and is also in the process of producing various publications to educate people about the prevention of cancer, so the money raised will really make a difference. Next year is the five-year anniversary of the charity, and of the passing of Christopher, so we will be running the marathon again to mark the occasion and I am so pleased Aztec will be there to join me."