A THOUGHTFUL Greenock schoolboy is one of the ‘jingle bell joggers’ ready to go the extra mile for the hospice which looked after his late gran.

Lewis McGhee, a pupil at Whinhill Primary, is taking part in the 3k jog for Ardgowan Hospice next month.

The 11-year-old will join his mum, who works at the hospice, on the charity run.

He said: “I’m hoping my football fitness training has paid off.

“I’m looking forward to it.”

His proud mum Nicola, who works with the hospice’s ‘Inside Out’ project, says the hospice is close to the whole family’s hearts.

She said: “Lewis’s gran Ethel passed away in the in-patient unit, so we know the services they provide and what they do for families.

“All the nurses in the unit were a great support for the family and this is our way of giving something back.”

Also taking part in the festive run are staff from the Greenock Specsavers store.

Lesley Brown, one of the owners of the shop, said: “The hospice is really important as cancer touches everybody.

“The hospice is our nominated charity for 2018 and we are sponsoring the event and have 11 staff taking part.

“We’re providing t-shirts for everybody who finishes and we will also be giving away £300 worth of spectacles for the highest fundraiser.”

Alex Mula, a fundraising officer at the hospice, has praised the festive fundraisers.

He said: “We are really grateful to Lewis, Nicola and Specsavers for the supporting the event.

“We think that the incentive that Specsavers are offering for the Jingle Bell Jog will really draw people in.

“It costs £9,000 a day to keep all the hospice services going.”

The Jingle Bell Jog is on Sunday December 10 and starts at Greenock Esplanade at 10am.

To sign up visit www.ardgowanhospice.org.uk