FRAME runner Ian Duncan has won a national award recognising his contribution to sport and desire to help others.
The Corstorphine AAC member, 13, who lives with cerebral palsy that affects his mobility, co-ordination and balance, was named the Rotary GB & Ireland Young Citizen Sporting Hero 2024.
Ian and fellow competitor Finlay Menzies were the first two athletes in CAAC’s frame running group when it launched in January 2023, having previously had to travel to East Lothian twice every week for sessions.
The group has now trebled in size with training taking place at the Saughton track alongside the club’s able-bodied competitors.
Ian has previously taken part in a medical study at Queen Margaret University looking at the impact of frame running on the health and wellbeing of individuals with walking difficulties.
He also completed a challenge to climb 8,810 steps – the equivalent of scaling Ben Nevis – to raise £1,755 for youngsters to utilise Muirfield Riding Therapy.
And he has won gold medals for Scotland at the World Abilitysport International Cup over 60m, 100m, 200m and 400m, as well as championing frame running and encouraging others to take part in the sport.
Sports-daft Ian, who recently joined wheelchair rugby league club Edinburgh Giants, said: “Frame running gives me stability and it means I don’t need to worry about my balance. I get the feeling of freedom and competition as well as speed. It makes you feel like everyone else.
“I live in Edinburgh and we were travelling to East Lothian (for frame running). But for people who couldn’t travel to East Lothian, we wanted to make the sport accessible to them and Corstorphine Athletics Club took it on. There were two of us who started it and it’s just grown from there.
“I would like to say a huge thank you to Braids Rotary Club for all their help and support – and helping to buy a frame as they are quite costly. Without their help, we wouldn’t have been able to get the club off the ground.
“I hope that by winning this award, it will raise the profile and publicity of the sport and get loads of other people involved and enjoying the fun of the frame.”
Along with his award, Ian was given £250 to donate to charity. He chose Kindred, an advocacy group helping families of children with complex needs navigate services and support.
Ian’s mum, Sheena Duncan, revealed the money has already inspired another frame runner.
She said: “While asking Kindred for details of their bank account for the money to be paid to, I asked if they knew of anyone who might benefit from frame running. A little four-year-old boy came along a few weeks ago and loved it, so Ian has paid forward for someone else to have the benefit of frame running in their life.”
Sheena added: “Corstorphine Athletics Club have been amazing since the first few sessions. The camaraderie and banter gives me a warm glow every week.
“The club has not just said it wants to be inclusive but it is acting on those words. Being on the track when all the other groups are gives the frame running group a sense of belonging. It shows that the group are as much athletes as anyone else and it also shows the ‘performance’ everyone can attain. Everyone should be congratulated on the adoption of the group.”
Frame running coach and CAAC vice-president Graeme Reid said: “Ian has been an important part of the Corstorphine frame running group from the very beginning. As novice coaches in frame running, Ian’s willing participation and feedback was an important factor in how we formed our sessions and increased our knowledge and understanding of the discipline.
“Ian’s incredible personality and positive attitude shines through at every session and provides a great example for us all to follow.”
Hailing the “inspirational role models” in the Young Citizens Awards, the Rotary Club said: “The 2024 winners come from a variety of walks of life, but what has united them is their dedication to helping others, championing the causes they care about and overcoming adversity.”