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Shaun McFarlane

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Category: Fundraising Articles

Published on Wednesday, 14 May 2025 14:41

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Fitness Meets Fundraising: Shaun McFarlane

This September, tens of thousands of runners will take to the streets for the 2025 Great North Run. Among them will be one runner from FMA UK's hometown of Paisley who brings something a little different to the starting line: the perspective of someone who lives and breathes fitness.

As an assistant manager in PureGym Paisley, Shaun spends most of his days helping others become stronger, fitter, and more confident. But earlier this year, after a chance conversation during a visit from our charity team, he agreed, without hesitation, to take on a completely different kind of challenge: running 13.1 miles to raise money and awareness for people living with fibromyalgia.

Fibromyalgia is a life-altering condition that affects around 1 in 20 people in the UK, causing chronic pain, fatigue, unrefreshing sleep, and cognitive difficulties. Despite how common it is, fibromyalgia remains largely invisible, often misunderstood or overlooked. That’s why runners like Shaun are so important. They shine a spotlight on a cause that doesn’t often get the attention it deserves.

And that awareness is just as important as the fundraising itself. Every conversation started, every social media post shared, and every pound donated helps challenge stigma and bring visibility to a condition that impacts millions of lives.

As one of our official charity place runners in this year’s Great North Run, Shaun is joining a team of everyday people doing extraordinary things. Together, they’re helping us raise vital funds for our work supporting the fibro-community: work that can make a real difference for people living with fibromyalgia.

We’re incredibly grateful for his decision to get involved—and even more grateful for the energy and commitment he’s bringing to the cause. Sometimes it only takes one yes to start something powerful.

You can help Shaun make a real difference by donating to his fundraiser at: https://ajbellgreatnorthrun2025.enthuse.com/pf/shaun-mcfarlane.

If you have been inspired by Shauns's story and would like to fundraise for FMA UK, please email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.