A GYM owner will be fundraising for a local hospital later this month.

Gerry Kennedy, 33, from Thornliebank, who owns Afit gym in the city's Southside, will be completing a range of fitness challenges on March 19, to raise money for the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) at the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow and the Positive About Down Syndrome charity.

Gerry's decision to raise money for the unit and charity comes after his cousin's son, Ted, who has Down Syndrome, recently spent a month being treated in the PICU. 

The unit has previously taken care of the three-year-old a number of times, in which they have "saved" his life "on more than one occasion".

Glasgow Times:

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Gerry told the Glasgow Times: "At the start of the year I was informed of Ted being in PICU.

"I was quite taken aback at how quickly things had turned.

"I began thinking about the strength Ted was showing, minute by minute, day by day and I was thinking of what a difficult time my cousin Hannah and her partner Ross would be having.

"So, I decided that I wanted to help in any way that I could."

Glasgow Times:

The fundraiser will be a public event, where people can take part in a range of challenges including a 5k, 10k, 15k, 21k runs, 21k ski, and a 5k ski or row. 

Gerry will be doing his own challenges as part of the fundraiser, which will consist of three half marathons on the day. 

The first half marathon will be a ski and row, the second he'll be riding a bike and the third will consist of a run.  

Gerry will start his challenges at 7am, with the public welcome at the Polmadie gym from 9am. 

Gerry said: "I have never helped with anything like this before and I am just giving it my best effort.

"I have never completed a half marathon before in any capacity so doing three in the space of a few hours is daunting but with things like this I think it's nothing compared to what Ted and others have overcome."

On the day there will also be a buggy walk, for those that want to take part with their children, which Gerry's cousin, Hannah Ballantyne, 32, is leading.

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Hannah, from Giffnock, said: "The whole family are really looking forward to the day and getting involved, and to raise money for Positive About Down Syndrome and the PICU.

"We will never be able to thank the staff at the PICU enough for everything they have done for him over the years but especially over the month Ted stayed there at the beginning of the year."

Glasgow Times:

Gerry and Hannah hope to raise plenty of money on the day, as well as change attitudes towards Down Syndrome. 

Gerry said: "I hope to help raise a lot of money for both causes and also raise awareness of Down Syndrome.

"Unfortunately I think a lot of people think that difference equals deficit, but no person is any less than the next. 

"Hopefully this event will bring awareness to the cause, and can help inspire others to realise that our bodies and minds are capable of more than we know."

Glasgow Times:

Hannah added: "We hope to show people that a world without Down Syndrome would be a colder and darker place.

"Over the past three years Ted has brought so much love and happiness to our lives, he has enriched our family and we could not be more proud of him.

"In a lot of ways, I wish I was more like our wee super Ted."

A link to the GoFundMe can be found HERE and donations will be accepted on the day. 

To get in touch with AFITGLASGOW, click HERE