On the run for Haven Appeal; Inverness man to do Loch Ness Marathon for good cause
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INVERNESS work coach Jonathan Golder has signed up for his first marathon in a bid to help develop a pioneering centre for children and young people with severe and complex needs.
The 26-year-old is in training for next month’s Baxters Loch Ness Marathon to raise money for the Haven Appeal, which wants to build the specialist centre at a site in Smithton.
The appeal, which aims to raise £4 million, was launched by the Elsie Normington Foundation and is supported by the Inverness Courier.
Mr Golder, of Drakies, first heard about the proposed centre while listening to a talk by Mrs Normington.
“I thought it was a really inspiring project,” he said. “There is nothing quite like the Haven Centre.
“I used to be a support worker and worked with people with additional needs.
“Some of the people I worked with would have loved something like this.
“I appreciate and understand what it is like for the people who will benefit.
“It is such a big challenge to raise £4 million and it takes big efforts to meet a big challenge so I met Elsie and although I have never done a marathon before, I said I would like to run the Loch Ness one.”
Mr Golder is following a 20-week training programme for the event on October 6.
“I am a bit competitive and I want to do the marathon in under four hours, but it is more important to just complete it,” he said.
The aim is to build the Haven Centre on a site previously occupied by the Culloden Court Nursing Home, which was destroyed by a fire in October 2010.
It will feature respite housing, a community café, specialist play
centres, office and meeting spaces and a community garden.
Anyone wanting to sponsor Mr Golder can do so at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/jonathan-golder
The appeal also has a crowdfunding page at www.gofundme.com/the-haven-appeal. For more information go to www.havenappeal.org.uk
