Clarkston teen Glen leaves runners in the dust at Glasgow Race for Life 5k

A Clarkston teenager was the first across the finish line – ahead of thousands of adult runners and joggers – at the Race for Life Glasgow 5K at the weekend.

Glen Griffiths (13), a S1 pupil at Williamwood High School, who is also member of the Giffnock North running club, completed the 5K in 19 minutes and 57 seconds.

Glen was the first of the 6,500 participants home.

Mum Gillian said: “This was Glen’s fourth Race for Life – he first ran it when he was nine-years-old.

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“I was at the finish line waiting for him, and the commentator said something along the lines of: ‘here comes the first runner, way ahead of everything else – and he’s just a young lad as well.’

“Then I realised it was Glen!

“I’m so pleased for him and really chuffed, not just for coming first, but for raising £500 for charity.

“He has a really good heart.”

Gillian continued: “I am a counsellor and was volunteering at the Marie Curie Hospice since Glen was little, so he has grown up being aware of cancer.

“Several members of our family have battled cancer, as have some of his friends’ parents.

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“Therefore Glen wanted to run this year ‘for everyone who has been affected by cancer’.”

The youngster only joined the Giffnock North running Club in January this year, and recently signed up for the Pollok Park run with his dad. Gillian said: “He started the race this year with his dad, but quickly left him in the dust!

“He’s used to that now that they do the park run together and his dad is really proud of him as well.”

An incredible £20 million has been raised in Glasgow to fund gentler and more effective treatments for cancer since Scotland’s first Race for Life event was held in the city in spring 1995.

Money raised helps scientists find new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat the disease, helping save more lives.

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