A TRIO of talented sportsmen are swapping cricket bats and golf clubs for running shoes in aid of a good cause.

James Dickinson, Finlay McCreath and Brodie Good will run from Loretto School in Musselburgh to Binning Wood, near Tyninghame, and back again tomorrow (Saturday).

The 44-mile route – dubbed RUN44AMATE – is in aid of Movember and to promote mental health among men.

The good cause encourages people to unite and take on mental health, suicide, prostate and testicular cancer.

James, who grew up in Dunbar, told the Courier: “We have always got involved in Movember in different capacities – whether at university or at our local sports clubs.

“This year, it is a bit more poignant for us.

“We are trying to raise money mainly on the back of our other best mate; his brother sadly passed away earlier this year.

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“The message is loud and clear for us in terms of motivation but there is the bigger picture in terms of trying to make it a special day and to bring people together.

“We are asking people to join us on the run, if they are able to, and banging the drum for mental health.

“There are a lot of great things happening in November as part of fundraising for Movember.

“We are just wanting to get people chatting and talking and, especially going into the winter months, any time you speak to somebody, check and ask how they are getting on.”

James, who recently graduated from Edinburgh Napier University after studying business studies, Finlay, who is studying brewery and distillery at Heriot-Watt University, and Brodie, who works in London as an operations consultant, have known each other since their time at the Musselburgh school.

Growing up together, sport has been a key part of their friendship, with 24-year-old Brodie, who previously lived in Dunbar and Longniddry, a scratch golfer, while both James and Finlay, who grew up in Berwick-upon-Tweed, have been involved in the Scotland set-up for cricket.

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James acknowledged neither sport “require too much mileage” but said training for the challenge had brought its benefits.

The 25-year-old said: “I stumbled into running in lockdown, as quite a few people did.

“I have done a bit of running since and, for the other two, they have done a bit of running and through sport.

“We are all quite athletic but nothing quite like this.

“We have been training since June or July time and were quite new to it.

“There is a lot of stuff to take on board, not just running but the nutrition and fuelling side of it.

“It has been quite interesting but nice having a focal point and a reason to get up on a cold morning and go out for an hour or two run.

“It has been a lot of training and hopefully, with support of other people – we have got a support crew with us, which will be a great help to us – we will be able to do it.”

To support the trio, go to uk.movember.com/team/2443022