about and share with us some of the events you have taken part in , the memories you have and the charities that have benefitted from your support . “ I have been running for around 15 years , but didn ’ t get involved in marathons until 2011 , when I wanted to help out Newry Gateway Club who needed a new bus . I didn ’ t do much before that because of work and travelling a lot . One day I got talking to Paddy Duffy , who was involved in the Gateway Club , and I told him I wanted to do a marathon to raise money for them .
“ My late sister , Bridget , had Down ’ s Syndrome and she was one of the first Gateway members back in the early 70s when there were only about 15 or 16 people going at that time . Now there are , unfortunately , about 280 to 300 going to it all the time . They do powerful work for people with disabilities , and I always said that I would do some kind of fundraising for them and that ’ s when I started - I put on my running shoes and did the Dublin marathon .
“ My goal was to make enough money to buy a new bus for the club which cost around £ 45,000 .
“ I hadn ’ t raised enough after the Dublin marathon , so I did the London marathon the following March and we raised around £ 58,000 at that stage and were able to buy a new bus as well as repair the old one . So , then I just said I ’ d do a few for myself and it just went from there .
“ I have completed all of the Big Six marathons and the Great Wall [ of China ] marathon as well as the major city marathons like Rotterdam , Paris , Barcelona and Valencia .”
“ We have a vision for the future and all our employees share this vision and are all moving towards making it a reality .”
What was the best bit of advice you were ever given in this industry ? “ The best advice I was ever given in life was from my late father . He always said : ‘ Walk when everyone is running and run when everyone is walking .’”
How did the diversification into fuelcards come about ? “ The fuelcard business resulted from my experience as a truck driver where I saw them being used by all the major oil companies .”
What do you see for Morgan Fuels looking ahead ? “ I see a collaborative approach between Morgan Fuels , our clients and the industry as a whole . There will be many changes afoot with the way goods are transported and the support the transport industry will need , and Morgan Fuels will be right on the front line with them .”
Unbelievably , while our readers are reading this , you will be participating in the 35th Marathon Des Sables ! Please tell us how your passion for marathon running came
And , finally , which is the most challenging – running a fuel distribution business or running a marathon ? “ There is no difference in either of them as a challenge . What creates the challenge for me in both is the passion to succeed in everything I do .
“ The MDS is a challenge that I can ’ t wait to get the starting line of . Two great passions I have are to raise money for the Irish hospice foundation and the Northern Ireland hospice – 2 great charities which look after the most terminally ill people on the island of Ireland - and the 2nd is to finish the marathon .”
And , with the determination Hugh has constantly shown in both business and previous running challenges , we have no doubt that we will be reporting a successful outcome for both in our next issue . Good luck Hugh !
If you wish to support Hugh ’ s fundraising for these two excellent charities , please visit https :// www . idonate . ie / TeamMorganRun
Fuel Oil News | October 2021 15