Castlederg man completes half marathon shortly after car crash

A CASTLEDERG man has collected more than £2,000 for cancer charity Marie Curie by completing the Omagh Half Marathon in memory of his late uncle, Ernest Walls.

Jonathan Doherty took on the 13.1-mile challenge on Sunday with just three weeks of training – a remarkable achievement following a car crash he was involved in earlier this year.

Running in memory of his uncle Ernest, who passed away from cancer in July, Jonathan crossed the finish line in 2 hours and 27 minutes – narrowly beating his goal of completing the race in under two and a half hours.

Ernest Walls, who lived just outside Victoria Bridge, was a much-loved figure in the local community. He worked for the Road Service in Strabane and was often seen sporting his signature cowboy hat.

Speaking after the race, Jonathan said: “I did the 5k in Omagh last year, and when I saw the opportunity to take part in the half marathon and support Marie Curie in Ernest’s memory, I had to go for it.

“Ernest was very well known and had a great sense of humour. The Marie Curie nurses were brilliant – they do amazing work, but they really need more funding to make sure they can support everyone who needs them. That’s why I chose to donate to them.”

Reflecting on the experience, he added: “I’m just glad I was able to do the race after the crash – and I’m even happier I did it under my goal time.”