At 72 years old, Ray Shooter shows no signs of reigning in his marathon passion and Standard Bank, Africa’s largest bank, are delighted to be able to support such a local hero in his fundraising efforts, especially as many of the marathons he has completed have been in Africa.

Ray started running in July 1982 when he was 40 years old and ran his first marathon in Dublin later that year. Since then he has gone on to complete in 75 marathons in South Africa, two in Namibia and one in Zimbabwe as well as over 100 other marathons in 11 countries around the globe including Brazil, Australia, Thailand, Iceland, Russia and New Zealand.

Ray ran his 200th marathon, the Vital Winelands Marathon in Stellenbosch, South Africa in November this year and only a week later he went on to complete the Die Vlakte Marathon in Heidelberg, Western Cape, South Africa which is an incredible achievement.

Ray raises money from his charitable running and his 200th marathon was in aid of Craig’s Heartstrong Foundation and the breast care unit at Nobles Hospital. Craig’s Heartstrong Foundation holds particular importance to the staff at Standard Bank as it is a charity that has been set up in memory of Craig Lunt, a former employee of the Bank.

Ray is determined that this isn’t his last marathon and he added, ‘many thanks to Standard Bank for sponsoring me in my 100th marathon back in 1999 and again for my 9 marathons in 9 months including my 200th marathon this year in 2014. I am looking forward to my next challenge already’.

Photo - (left to right): Ray Shooter, Chris Till.