Tesco say thanks to marathon men

Yet Nigel McNeill and John Butcher successfully tackled The Quadrathon in Donegal in August - all in the name of charity.

Consisting of 104.8 mile of coastal roads around Inishowen 100 the challenge provided a stern test for Nigel and John who were raising money for the British Heart Foundation and Diabetes UK, the chosen charities of Tesco Ballymoney where Nigel’s wife Audrey is a supervisor.

Both men have had previous experience of marathon running and are members of Springwell Running Club but the Quadrathon is a whole new ball game to the pair.

Nigel McNeill spoke to The Times about his marathon challenge. “I only started doing marathons about four and a half years ago,” he said. “Up to this point I had completed 22. John has been doing them for five years and has 26 marathons under his belt. It was very tough, we had driven around some of the routes and it was very hilly but that’s what made it a challenge!”

Staff and management of Tesco Ballymoney paid tribute to the efforts of the men at a ceremony in the store to present the marathon runners with certificates of appreciation.

Pictured are Geoff Purcell, Store Manager; Fionnuala Savage, Charity Manager, Nigel McNeill, Marathon runner, John Butcher, Marathon Runner; Stephen Cochrane, Store Director; Angie McNeill, Counters Manager and Jackie Brogan, Community Champion.