Campaigners raising cash for a new £16.5 million medical teaching and learning centre for Aberdeen are quids in, thanks to the exhausting efforts of two runners from the University of Aberdeen and NHS Grampian.
Dr Roelf Dijkhuizen, Medical Director of NHS Grampian, challenged Professor Mike Greaves, Head of the University’s Medical School, to compete in the Baxters Loch Ness Marathon and raise money for the Matthew Hay project, which will provide a state-of-the-art medical teaching and learning centre at Foresterhill to teach tomorrow’s doctors and provide training for health professionals.
Professor Greaves jumped at the chance and each joked they would cross the finishing line before the other.
However the honours were shared between both institutions as the dynamic duo completed the rain-soaked race in a dead-heat in 3 hrs 4 minutes.
Professor Greaves said of their weekend endeavours: “Our time placed us joint third in the old men’s over 50s race!
“Roelf easily broke his personal best times for both half and full marathon in the one race which is a wonderful achievement.
“Thanks to the great generosity of colleagues and friends who sponsored us our fundraising target of £4,000 was exceeded. We both would like to sincerely thank all of those who gave us such magnificent support.”
The Matthew Hay project is a joint University / NHS Grampian initiative - for more details see: http://www.abdn.ac.uk/clsm/matthewhay/