A SUPER fit Greenock schoolteacher is set to take on a gruelling 53-mile ‘ultra marathon’ in memory of a tragic murder victim.

Katy Smith, who is a principal teacher at Lomond View Academy, has signed up for the mammoth challenge along the West Highland Way from Milngavie to Tyndrum to help raise money for The Moira Fund, set up in memory of Glasgow businesswoman Moira Jones, inset.

The charitable foundation was launched by friends and family of the 40-year-old, who was murdered in Queen’s Park eight years ago.

Katy got involved with the fund and Moira’s parents Hu and Bea through a contact in the police force’s violence reduction unit and approached them to offer her support.

She helped establish the Moira’s Run fundraiser and has kept a close link with the charity ever since.

The fund has also supported the Greenock school where she works and pupils were recently visited by Hu and Bea, who gave a powerful talk.

Katy told the Tele: “They came to the school to talk to the young people a while back and spoke to them about how they felt when Moira was murdered.

“It was a moving experience.

“The charity has also helped some Lomond View families so I felt I really had to give something back to the charity, and it’s an incentive to get me round the course.”

Her 53-mile race takes place on Saturday April 30 with fellow Inverclyde teacher Kevin O’Donoghue, who is head of music at St Stephen’s in Port Glasgow.

It will be Katy’s fourth ultra marathon and despite the scale of the task in front of her, she is taking it in her stride.

She said: “It’s a psychological thing — if you go out for a two-mile run you will struggle at one mile.

“It’ll be a day in the countryside for me with a bit of jogging thrown in.

“I used to do karate but I took up running about six years ago.

“If I can do it anybody can.”

The teacher says she has been spurred on by colleagues, pupils and parents at Lomond View, who have been a big source of encouragement.

The young people are also helping with her fundraising appeal.
Katy said: “Some of them are going to take away sponsorship forms for me.

“The young people have been very supportive.”

To sponsor Katy visit mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/katykevinhighlandfling