Falkirk Herald columnist's nephew (4) coins in over £4000 by running charity 5K

Grangemouth resident Emma, who writes the renowned online Simply Emma blog and a monthly column in The Falkirk Herald, has to use a wheelchair due to having limp girdle muscular dystrophy.

She had no idea her condition would prove to be the driving force behind her four-year-old nephew Alfie Hadden’s charity endeavours for Muscular Dystrophy UK and now the youngster, who completed his 5K challenge at the weekend, has raised an amazing £4118.

Emma said: “Alfie did it – he completed his 5k run in 46.40. What a fantastic achievement. We are so proud of him.”

Due to the coronavirus crisis and her condition, Emma has not been able to see Alfie, who lives in East Kilbride, as much as she would like or even go outside very much – which is hard for someone who loves to travel as much as she does.

She said: “Alfie was running with his mum just for exercise and she said to him, why don’t you run for a charity. He said ‘I want to run for Aunty Emma’s charity’. I was really quite taken aback and amazed he had thought to do something like that because he is so young.

“I’m incredibly proud of him taking on this challenge and to have the idea to do it for charity to help others. He is so happy to be doing it to help people like me with muscle wasting conditions.

“He has been telling everyone about his run and what muscular dystrophy is – he’s a wee superstar with a heart of gold.”

While Alfie is Emma’s hero, the youngster was delighted to get a kind message of support from his own top role model – former Falkirk player and current Rangers star Scott Arfield, who wished him well online.

Visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/laura-mcenroe fir more information.