Meet Our Supporters: SMR Trustees take on the London Marathon

This year, Scottish Mountain Rescue (SMR) is proud to have two of its own – Paul and Alastair – taking on the iconic London Marathon in support of the charity they serve. Between them, they bring decades of experience volunteering on the front line and leading behind the scenes, helping to keep mountain rescue teams across Scotland ready for anything.

What makes this challenge even more remarkable is the scale of commitment they have already given. Alongside full-time jobs, family life, and their roles as active volunteers within their own mountain rescue teams, both Paul and Alastair hold demanding national roles supporting Scottish Mountain Rescue. Their decision to take on the London Marathon on top of all this is something we are hugely grateful for.

Taking on 26.2 miles is no small feat, but for Paul and Alastair, this challenge is about far more than the finish line. It’s a chance to raise vital funds, increase awareness of the breadth of work mountain rescue teams undertake, and give back to a community they are deeply committed to.

If you’d like to support their efforts, you can donate here:
👉 Alastair: Alastair Glennie is fundraising for Scottish Mountain Rescue
👉 Paul: Paul Russell is fundraising for Scottish Mountain Rescue

We caught up with Alastair and Paul ahead of race day to hear more about their roles, their motivation, and what this challenge means to them…

SMR Medical Officer, Alastair Glennie

Could you tell us more about yourself? How did your passion for the outdoors develop, and how did you first get involved in Mountain Rescue?

I’m a full time GP living in the Northeast of Scotland with my wife and 2 teenage children.  My son describes me as an outdoor enthusiast who’s passion started as a child growing up in the Borders.  My father joined his local MRT when I was a teen so I first got involved as a casualty on the hill for training and many years later I joined Aberdeen Mountain Rescue Team (MRT) as a junior doctor.

I have been in Aberdeen MRT for 16 years, and for the last 10 years I have also been the national medical officer for SMR.

What does being SMR’s National Medical Officer involve?

I am the lead for basically everything medical that requires a national input. I have a drugs licence with the Home Office that allows me to issue drugs to teams for painkilling and life saving medication.  Along with a very dedicated and small volunteer team who undertake this training, I am ultimately responsible for the governance of medical training and assessment of the ‘Remote rescue medical technician’ course and qualification that allows volunteers to give these drugs.  I link in with various stakeholders such as the ambulance service and organisations that represent and advice search and rescue organisations in the UK, have been to Parliament to work with the All Party Parliamentary Group and have a seat on the medical commission for the International Commission of Alpine Rescue.  It is like having a part time unpaid job in addition to being a team doctor and ‘stretcher lugger’ for my local team, but has the potential to make more of a difference to lost and injured casualties than my day job!

Has your role within SMR changed how you think about fundraising and public support?

I am always astounded by the generosity of the public towards mountain rescue.  There is sometimes a misperception that our only task is rescuing mountaineers and climbers, but teams also search for missing vulnerable persons, help retrieve bodies from hard to reach areas and provide a resilience response in adverse weather such as flooding or snow, as Aberdeen did in January.  I think this is why the general public is so supportive as we can help in so many areas.

It’s not every day that charity trustees take on the London Marathon for their own organisation. How does it feel to be fundraising for a cause you directly represent?

I’ve wanted to run London for many years. To do it for the charity I have spent over a decade volunteering for makes it extra special and a topic I can talk about for hours!

The London Marathon is iconic. Is there anything you’re particularly looking forward to?

The atmosphere!  To be able to run past so many famous landmarks with tens of thousands of others in what some have described as a carnival atmosphere.

Image: Alastair running in support of SMR at the Supernova Forth Road Bridge 5k in 2024

How are you preparing for this challenge, both physically and mentally?

Mountain rescuers have to be pretty fit to start with, but this has taken a demanding training regime of road running.  It has meant early mornings, running in snow, ice and sub zero temperatures over winter and challenging fitting it around family life and juggling being a full time GP along with the SMR role.

In addition I have been giving talks to groups such as local Rotary clubs about mountain rescue to raise funds, and so far the fundraising side of things has been as much hard work as running training.

You both understand exactly how vital fundraising is for SMR. Has that made asking for sponsorship easier or harder?

I find it very hard to ask for sponsorship. For me, the most precious gift I can give is my time, which is why I volunteer both for my local team and for SMR. I can offer a very specialist skill set and over the last decade by volunteering for this role has saved the charity many tens of thousands of pounds. However I still find it very difficult to ask for funds and why I offered to give talks as well. However keeping a team equipped and trained can cost in the region of £40K a year, and with 28 teams nationally that’s a lot of money, so every donation is much appreciated.

What would success look like for you on marathon day?

My aim is to enjoy the experience. Time flies when you’re having fun and I hope this to be one of the most enjoyable runs I have ever done. I have no time expectations and would rather savour the day, chat to as many runners and supporters as I can, spread the word about mountain rescue and meet my fundraising target, which is the average cost of a call out.

If your marathon effort could send one message about Scottish Mountain Rescue to the public, what would it be?

Anyone can enjoy the hills and outdoors, moving is good for physical and mental health so get out and enjoy it whilst you can. Life is short and we never know when the day will come that we can’t do the things we want to, don’t put it off to tomorrow, do it today. Just take the right kit and check the weather forecast first!

SMR Vice Chair, Paul Russell

Image: Paul (second from left) with members of Tayside MRT

Paul writes: I’ve been involved with Tayside Mountain Rescue Team for around 18 years, serving as Equipment Officer, Deputy Team Leader, and Team Leader. Nationally, I’ve also held the roles of Equipment Officer, Training Officer, and now Vice Chair of Scottish Mountain Rescue (SMR) — a position that involves a great deal of behind-the-scenes work. Through these experiences, I’ve gained a deep appreciation for the fundraising efforts that keep our teams equipped and ready, both locally and across Scotland.

I’m proud to be running the London Marathon in support of SMR. After completing the Manchester Marathon in 2025, I swore I’d never do another — yet when the chance arose to take on the iconic London route for such an important cause, I couldn’t resist. My goal is to finish in around the same time as Manchester; I’m not as fit as I once was, so anything under six hours will feel like a big achievement!

“Taking on a personal challenge, whatever it may be, is a fantastic way to support our charity. Every penny raised goes directly to helping the teams that carry out lifesaving work across Scotland’s mountains and remote areas.”

 

Image: Alastair and Paul at the International Commission of Alpine Rescue, Jackson Hole 2025

A big thank you from SMR

Taking on the London Marathon is a huge personal commitment, but for Paul and Alastair it also represents something bigger: a shared belief in the importance of supporting Scotland’s mountain rescue teams and their fellow volunteers who give their time, skills and energy to help others.

We are enormously grateful to both Alastair and Paul for taking on the training and fundraising for the London Marathon. To do so alongside full-time jobs, ongoing commitments to their local rescue teams, and significant national responsibilities within Scottish Mountain Rescue makes their efforts truly extraordinary.

Their dedication, energy and willingness to go above and beyond are a powerful example of the spirit that drives mountain rescue. Their efforts are not only helping to raise vital funds, but also shining a light on the work of volunteers across the country.

Every donation, no matter the size, helps ensure our volunteer teams can continue to respond — Any Hour, Any Day, Any Weather. If you haven’t already, there’s still time to show your support:

Every donation, no matter the size, helps ensure our volunteer teams across the country can continue to respond – Any Hour, Any Day, Any Weather. If you haven’t already, there’s still time to show your support:

👉 Alastair: Alastair Glennie is fundraising for Scottish Mountain Rescue
👉 Paul: Paul Russell is fundraising for Scottish Mountain Rescue

Thank you, Alastair and Paul!

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Looking ahead to next year…

If you are inspired by Paul and Alastair’s efforts, you might like to be part of our next team. We have two charity places available for the London Marathon 2027 in support of Scottish Mountain Rescue.

Find out more here: London Marathon 2027 – Scottish Mountain Rescue