AN endurance athlete from Neilston has completed the first two stages in his bid to run 500 miles for those living with Motor Neurone Disease.

Last August, we told of Greg Lee’s plan to run six of Scotland’s best-known walks, totalling 502 miles, to fund vital research into the fatal condition, which affects the nervous system.

Greg’s lung-bursting ultra-marathons of between 65 and 100 miles involve going up to 24 hours without sleep, with only stops for toilet breaks allowed.

His first run of the six was last October, when he completed the 62-mile Arran Coastal Path in just under 12 hours.

Greg was due to complete the 85-mile Speyside Walk last month but that had to be cancelled because of lockdown restrictions.

Instead, he ran an alternative route that took him to Neilston, Stewarton and Irvine, completing this leg in 13 hours.

So far, he has raised around £5,500 for MND research.

And with four more runs to do, he aims to coin in thousands of pounds more.

Greg, who works as an underfloor heating manager, said: “The Arran Coastal Path was a real effort because my body began rejecting fluids. I then developed stomach and leg cramps and it was a real stumble to the end.

“It certainly wasn’t pain-free but the target time was 24 hours, so to do it in half that time was quite a feat.”

For both ultra-marathons, Greg had a six-man support team who provided him with food and water.

His final big run will be the 100-mile Kintyre Way in July 2022, which he hopes to finish in 36 hours.

In between, he plans to run the 92-mile Ayrshire Coastal Path in May, the 96-mile West Highland Way in October and the 78-mile Skye Trail next February.

Greg’s inspiration is his wife Rebecca’s grandmother Mary McKee and The Proclaimers’ classic hit I’m Gonna Be (500 miles).

Mary has lost 14 family members to MND over the last 30 years, including her dad, two brothers, an uncle and a nephew.

During that time, she raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for the MND Scotland charity.

To support Greg’s fundraising efforts, visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/walk500milesformnd.