A BALLINAMALLARD minister has completed a unique half marathon around his home village, raising more than £1,000 for Prostate Cancer UK and marking his 60th birthday in the process.

Archdeacon Brian Harper, minister of Magheracross Parish Church, Ballinamallard, was to run the London Landmarks Half Marathon this month, but due to the pandemic it was postponed until later this year.

However, determined to mark his milestone birthday by running a half marathon, Brian devised the ‘Ballinamallard Landmarks Half Marathon’, taking in local landmarks around the village as well as a few new ones created especially for the run.

He explained: “It all started with the London Landmarks Half Marathon. I got a place through the Prostate Cancer UK charity and it also turned out that the date of that marathon was only a week after my 60th birthday, so I thought: ‘What a wonderful way to celebrate being 60, to run a half marathon’.

“Unfortunately that half marathon has now been postponed until August 1. I’m still hoping to do it, but I also thought: ‘Well, I will still celebrate my 60th birthday by running a half marathon here at home’.

“Then the idea struck me – ‘Why don’t we make it Ballinamallard Landmarks Half Marathon?’.

“I just thought it would be a great community thing to do, and I’d also be raising sponsorship for Prostate Cancer UK.”

Taking inspiration from the format of the London run, Brian created a route around Ballinamallard that took in a number of local landmarks which he successfully completed on Sunday, May 16 – the day before his 60th birthday.

Outlining some of the landmarks he passed by, the fundraising archdeacon said: “We had the two churches, the old swimming pool and Magheracross old cemetery.”

The route also included Ballinamallard bridge, the new housing development of Westminster Court, Ferney Park football pitches and the sign stating how Ballinamallard is the ancestral homestead of writer, Rudyard Kipling, and former Prime Minister, Stanley Baldwin.

On the day, Brian also came across a few new landmarks, created especially by members of the Ballinamallard community.

“Someone had a leaning tower of pizza made at their front door and there were three young brothers had created the pyramids of Egypt out of marshmallows and sticks,” he noted.

Speaking to The Impartial Reporter following his running challenge, the archdeacon was pleased to reveal that the run went “very well”.

He said: “There was a nice crowd of people cheering me off at the beginning – all socially-distanced along the footpath, of course.

“I found the hills very tough, but I was supported around the end by one son on a bicycle in front of me, and one behind me, urging me on.

“I finished in two hours and 23 minutes, which I was very pleased with, but I was very sore afterwards,” he added.

Following the run, Brian enjoyed a well-deserved slice of birthday cake.

Having raised more than £1,000 for Prostate Cancer UK so far, Brian explained why he chose to support this charity.

He said: “It’s an illness that affects a huge number of men and it really is something that needs as much research as possible.”

To donate to this cause, see https://tinyurl.com/3x963cys.