Stirling fish farmer to take on iconic Boston race to promote Gaelic effort

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Stirling fish farmer Stewart Hawthorn is set to pull on his running shoes for one of the world’s most iconic races – all in the aid of spreading the word about Gaelic.The 57-year-old has had a long career in the industry which has taken him all over the globe and in his spare time, he also enjoys hitting the pavements for marathon runs, including the Solway Coast and Florence races.It was Stewart’s performance in the Edinburgh Marathon which then earned him the opportunity to pull on a number for the prestigious Boston Marathon – set to take place next Monday (April 15).His linguistic choice of good cause came to fruition after Stewart witnessed the rise of the native Maori language in New Zealand, with local efforts there seeing the dialect now more widely spoken and phrases appearing in regular conversations.Stewart’s passion for spreading the word about Gaelic was sparked by his wife, Kerry, who is a Gaelic learner and has started a weekly gathering for those speaking and aiming to learn the language in Stirling.He said: “My wife’s passion for learning Gaelic is truly inspiring.“While I haven’t started my language journey yet, I can use my legs to raise awareness and funds to support Gaelic language and culture.”As part of that effort, Stewart will be on the roads of the eastern US city raising vital funds for the Gaelic Books Council.The keen runner picked up his shoes during the Covid pandemic in 2021 and has steadily picked up his times, with his performance in the 2023 race in the capital giving him his opportunity in the world-famous marathon.Stewart is now seeking to secure funds for his adventure – with the aim of tackling the tricky route in a time of three hours and 15 minutes.He said: “Having witnessed the