For more than 15 years, Paul worked as the head gardener on a private estate where he tended to 70 acres of woodland garden containing a collection of species rhododendrons. The pull of his love for athletics grew too great to ignore, and soon Paul found himself returning to university full-time to study sports coaching with sports development at Moray College, Elgin.

Paul’s love of running developed in his school days in Haltwhistle, England, but he left the sport behind at age 16 when he completed his primary education. His passion was reignited in 1997 when he began orienteering with his son, Andrew, now age 17.

Running has been the backbone of Paul’s numerous volunteer activities. He is the club captain for the Forres Harriers, the local running club; organizer of an annual woodland run to raise money for a local village hall; and coach of various sports played by primary-aged children. He is also a volunteer leader for his local Jogscotland group, a recreational running club that meets weekly and boasts up to 90 attendees.

Paul heard about the Blue Planet Run through a running friend and was immediately intrigued by the challenge and the chance to be part of such a great event in support of a worthwhile cause. He is particularly excited about being part of a team containing a diverse group of people and visiting new parts of the world. Blue Planet Run will mark Paul’s first excursion outside of Europe; his only overseas trips before this have been two visits to France and one to Spain. Paul cites the support of his family, friends and college colleagues as the reason for his commitment to Blue Planet Run.

Paul’s favorite books are Feet in the Clouds: A Tale of Fell Running and Obsession by Richard Askwith. He loves to jam to The Who and The Kinks and counts “Louie, Louie” by The Kingsmen as his “favorite song ever.” When he’s not watching his favorite soccer team, Carlisle United, he enjoys watching shows such as Rising Damp, Happy Days and The Good Life.

According to Paul, making a difference in someone’s life can take many forms. It can mean donating money to a charitable cause or simply helping a struggling runner finish a local race.