Former Scotland captain Budge Pountney is part of a group taking on five marathons in five days to raise money for My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, starting tomorrow.

Budge and former Melrose teammate of Doddie, Stuart Thom, will be running their five marathons in and around Belfast, and are joined by participants running in Edinburgh, Berkshire and more.

The group are encouraging anyone who wants to participate to run as many of the miles as they can.

Stuart previously organised The Long Weekend, a 410-mile cycle around Northern Ireland which raised over £16,500 for the foundation.

Budge said: “I took part in a horrendous challenge in Aid of My Name’5 Doddie foundation on a bike that Stu sorted in Ireland from Malin to Mizen Head – I thought it would be a breeze, I didn’t train and don’t even own a road bike so had to borrow Simon Danielli’s and his clip-on shoes and all of Shaun Longstaff’s kit.

“I had to be taught how to use the clip-on shoes in the car park at about 7am in the morning.

“I said to Stu that I never wanted to go near a bike ever again after we finished, so he then came up with this challenge.

“I couldn’t refuse!

“For me, it’s about facing a challenge like Doddie has to face every day and meet it head on, there was no preparation for Doddie and all those who suffer from MND so I wanted to take part in a challenge that would reflect that lack of preparation.

“Not everyone does it that way, but it suits and motivates me.

“It is up to us all to support the need to find a cure for MND, it’s such a cruel thing to happen and without continued awareness we won’t have the ability to search for a cure and help all of those who suffer with MND.”

The page to donate to the challenge can be found at: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/stuart-thom6