S4 Eps 8 - Young Hearts, Run Free - Killie to the Sahara with Mark Reilly - 26 Nov 2021

Black Friday these days is a lot diff to the Black Fridays we used to enjoy back in our heyday. Today Black Friday means tons of faux discounts along with the release of another Young Hearts Run Free episode.

We do have a BIG Black Friday announcement to make during our pre-guest catch up as YHRF merch finally lands! Yip, you can now support the podcast by grabbing a YHRF Buff. Contact us through Twitter, Instagram or email us on youngheartsrunfreepodcast@gmail.com to secure yours!

And our conveyor belt of top notch guests just keeps churning out the goods. Joining us for our 68th episode is former professional footballer Mark Reilly. Mark enjoyed a sparkling career in the top flight with memorable spells at Kilmarnock bringing career highs that would fulfil any boyhood dreams. On retiring Mark found a new passion, that passion eventually led to completing the Marathon des Sables in Morocco in October 2021.

Listen in to find out the driving force behind some of his mammoth running endeavours as he speaks openly and honestly about his charity fundraising on behalf of Reverse Rett. Mark's daughter Dionne was diagnosed with Rett Syndrome early in her life. To date Mark has raised in excess of £21,000, and as you'll hear, his every step has been fuelled with the desire to raise awareness and money for a cause so very close to his heart.

Get Mark's inside track on participating in the gruelling and iconic Marathon des Sables in the Sahara Desert. A real from the horses mouth account of the before, during and after of toeing the line. And in Mark's own words, for a boy from Bellshill it was certainly a bit different!

Mark also completed an inspiring run between his former Scottish Football clubs he turned out for during his career. 100 mile plus covered in an astonishing time.

Mark's take on approaching these challenges is refreshing, a steely determination to put himself through the ringer and how mind over matter can help achieve what feels like the impossible.

Sponsor Mark's Reverse Rett fundraising attempts here https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/mark-reilly12
Read more about Mark's charity Reverse Rett here https://www.reverserett.org.uk/