Cambuslang Rugby Club boss Gavin Blackburn with little Amber McRae and her mum Leanne, after running from East Kilbride to Ayr (Image: Lisa Campbell) Get the latest news from Record Sport with our daily newsletter More Newsletters Subscribe Please enter a valid email Something went wrong, please try again later. More Newsletters We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More info Thank you for subscribing! We have more newsletters Show me See Our Privacy Notice See Our Privacy Notice × Group 28 Get the latest news from Record Sport with our daily newsletter Invalid email Something went wrong, please try again later. Sign Up No thanks, close We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More info × Group 28 Thank you for subscribing! We have more newsletters Show Me No thanks, close See our Privacy Notice Gavin Blackburn had to push himself through the pain barrier to complete a 28-mile charity run from East Kilbride to Ayr – but says it was worth it to see little Amber McRae’s face at the end. Cambuslang Rugby Club coach Blackburn undertook the gruelling run on Saturday, March 24, raising over £2600 to go towards the renovation of Amber’s East Kilbride home, to make it more comfortable for her. Amber has spina bifida and at only five years old has undergone more than 20 operations. Her parents are converting the lower floor of their house to accommodate a wet room and bedroom for their little girl, and Blackburn wants to help out with that. Blackburn hopes a charity game between a Cambuslang XV and an invitation squad on Saturday, May 11, will raise the rest of his £5000 target. While Gavin had help from Cambuslang Rugby Club cohort David MacKenzie, who ran with him from Kilmarnock to Ayr, and his partner Lisa and her son Jamie, he admits it was harder than he thought. But he ran a total of 45.49km in a time of 7hrs 5mins and 41 seconds. Blackburn said: “It was very tough. It was probably tougher than I thought it would be. Gavin shows his figures on his smart watch after completing the challenge (Image: Gavin Blackburn) “But at the same time I was comfortable in it, because I knew it would be difficult and resigned myself to the fact that it was going to be, and I had to grind through it. “It started to get really tough around 30k, but I managed to get through. Read More Related Articles East Kilbride athlete claims
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Scotland U19s role “A guy called David MacKenzie ran with me from Kilmarnock and that made a big difference, having somebody to chat to, and basically get through it with. “My partner Lisa and her son Jamie met me at each part to refuel, so that was good and much needed. “Recovery wasn’t too bad, I was back in the gym in the middle of last week. “There was a few aches and pains, as you could imagine, but on the whole it wasn’t too bad at all. “It’s a brilliant feeling to have done it. Seeing Amber’s face in the car park at the end of it made it all worthwhile, really. “She’s such a beautiful wee girl with such a great personality, and to see her happy just made it all worth it.” Blackburn in his more usual role as boss of Cambuslang Rugby Club (Image: David MacKenzie) On the fundraising front, Blackburn said: “I’ve raised over £2600, and then with the game on May 11, we’ll hopefully make our target of £5k. “It’s going to make a massive difference. There’s a lot of work being done on the extension just now, so I’m sure it will help no end. “I’m sure I’ll do something else in the future, I’m not sure what that will be, but it won’t be my last.” Gavin’s fundraiser is still open and you can donate to it by visiting: justgiving.com/crowdfunding/Raisefundsforamber All the latest sport news in Lanarkshire Clydesdale crown sporting champions Accies striker signs contract extension Lifting cup a dream for Airdrie skipper Cambuslang Rangers 'need investment' Follow Lanarkshire Live Sport on X via @LanLiveSport , like us on
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