Heart Scotland Breakfast presenter Des Clarke is set to lead a group of 50 listeners and supporters at the AJ Bell Great Scottish Run 2026 in Glasgow on Sunday 4th October, raising funds for the radio station's official charity, Make Some Noise. The team, called 'Heart's Half-Marathon Heroes', will tackle the half marathon distance together, showcasing community spirit and raising vital funds for small charities across the UK.
The Challenge
Des Clarke, who co-hosts Heart Scotland Breakfast alongside Grado and Adele Cunningham, will be joined by a dedicated squad of listeners and supporters. The event is part of Scotland's biggest running event, the AJ Bell Great Scottish Run, which attracts 35,000 runners annually. Each member of Heart's Half-Marathon Heroes is required to raise a minimum of £300 to support Make Some Noise, which funds projects addressing mental health, disability, poverty and homelessness.
Des Clarke expressed his excitement about the challenge: "This is going to be tough, there's no doubt about that, but it's also going to be something really special. I'd love Heart Scotland listeners to sign up and join me, because Heart's Half-Marathon Heroes is all about ordinary people coming together to do something extraordinary. If you're up for a challenge and want to help make a real difference, get involved. Let's do this together and raise as much money as we can for Make Some Noise."
Fundraising Goal
The initiative aims to harness the power of community, with participants sharing inspiring stories as they train and run together. Every pound raised will go directly to small charities across Scotland and the UK, helping those facing life's toughest challenges. Suzanne Ryder-Richardson, Director of Global Goodness, commented: "We are incredibly grateful to Des for taking on this fantastic challenge in support of Make Some Noise. Heart's Half-Marathon Heroes is a brilliant way to bring people together, with Heart Scotland listeners and charity beneficiaries running side by side to raise money that will help change lives. Every pound raised will help fund small charities across Scotland and the UK, supporting people facing some of life's toughest challenges. We will be cheering Des and the whole team on every step of the way."
Support from Partners
Digby Brown, a specialist personal injury law firm, has partnered with Make Some Noise for the third consecutive year to support Heart's Half-Marathon Heroes. Listeners can follow Des and the team's journey on Heart Scotland's social media channels @HeartScotland, on heart.co.uk, and by listening to Heart Scotland on FM and DAB across the central belt or via Global Player. Places are still available for those ready to take on the challenge—sign up via the Heart Scotland website and join Des on the starting line.
