Albyn parent runs miles in fancy dress for Clan Cancer Support and SAMH

Furthermore, Marius decided to support two life-changing charities with his challenge including Clan Cancer Support who Albyn School have partnered with for the BookBench Trail in 2025. Marius’ journey is a powerful testament to resilience and community spirit, values embedded within the culture here at Albyn School. We share his story and the extraordinary physical and mental challenge he is taking on…

Could you tell us a little bit about yourself, and what is your connection with Albyn School?
I’m Marius Coste – husband, dad, charity runner in fancy dress, and proud parent to two beautiful girls. Our eldest daughter, Anna, and our Rainbow toddler Daisy are currently at Albyn School, and it’s been a place where they have flourished in every sense – as pupils, as musicians, and as young people.

The Albyn community has been incredibly nurturing and supportive – not just academically, but emotionally too. It’s a place that genuinely cares, and we’ve always felt that kindness. That’s why this means so much – because we’re not just sharing a story, we’re sharing it with people who have helped shape our lives.

Can you describe the epic challenge you’ve taken on?
I’ve committed to running, cycling and/or walking over 25km every single week – in full fancy dress – for 78 weeks straight, from June 2025 through to the end of 2026. That’s over 18 months of dinosaurs, minions, gorillas, giraffes – you name it, I’ll run in it – all to raise money and awareness for Clan Cancer Support and SAMH (Scottish Association for Mental Health).

It’s called “Miles of Smiles: The Costume Comeback Tour” – a title that captures both the light-heartedness of the costumes and the deeper purpose behind the journey. It’s a wild idea, but the heart behind it is very real.

As part of the physical and mental discipline of the challenge, I’ve committed to a 2-minute cold shower after every running, walking, or cycling session, and one 5-minute cold bath immersion each week. This isn’t just a physical reset – it symbolises resilience, discomfort, and pushing through mental barriers, all of which mirror the experience of living with mental health struggles.

Cold water therapy has become a powerful metaphor within the challenge: stepping into discomfort, controlling the mind, and coming out stronger. It’s another way of reinforcing the message that even small, repeated acts of bravery can lead to positive change – both physically and emotionally.

What inspired you to choose this particular challenge?
The challenge was born from pain – and from hope.

In 2021, my wife and I went through something no couple should have to endure – three consecutive miscarriages. It was the darkest, most heartbreaking time of our lives. The grief was overwhelming. And yet, running became my therapy – my way of finding light in the darkness, purpose in the pain.

But the roots go even deeper. Years ago, while still a student, I was involved in a life-changing car accident. That moment taught me just how fragile life is. It sparked something in me – a drive to live fully, to give back, and to help others through their storms.

That year, I launched a challenge to run 36km every week for 36 weeks, in memory of the 36 people who die by suicide each month in Scotland. I ran in costume every week to spread smiles and start conversations, and managed to clock almost 3,000 km – raising over £7,000 for mental health support.

I actually kicked off that challenge by running dressed as a Minion along Aberdeen’s beach promenade. What started as a silly idea quickly went viral – with over 100,000 views and thousands of kind, encouraging comments from people from all walks of life. Local newspapers picked it up, and it brought so much-needed visibility to mental health at a time when so many were struggling – myself included.

It was during the pandemic, when we were all so restricted in what we were allowed to do, and people felt incredibly isolated. That Minion run, as funny as it looked, sparked something powerful. It reminded me – and many others – that joy, connection, and conversation could still break through even the hardest moments.

This new challenge builds on that spirit. It’s bigger, bolder – and even more personal.

How did you prepare for it?
There’s no manual for running hundreds of kilometres dressed as a full-body inflatable Minion – I’ve checked!

Physically, I’ve kept consistent with my running and cold therapy (cold showers, cold water dips). But more than anything, this is a mental and emotional challenge – it’s about resilience, discipline, and showing up when it’s hard.

And, of course, I test the costumes! Some are surprisingly breathable. Others… not so much. But they all bring smiles.

What’s been the hardest part so far?
The hardest part is showing up when life feels heavy.

Running when it’s raining sideways, or after a tough day at work, or when you’re mentally exhausted – those moments test you. But they also remind you why you started.

Every car horn, every child’s wave, every stranger who stops me and says, “Thank you for doing this” – those are the moments that carry me forward.

Why did you choose to support Clan Cancer Support? What does the charity mean to you personally?
Cancer has touched my life in deeply personal ways.

I lost my grandfather to prostate cancer – a gentle, strong man who meant the world to me. And not long ago, I lost a dear friend and colleague, Jacqui, to pancreatic cancer. She was one of those people who could light up a room just by walking into it. Her loss still leaves a hole.

The harsh truth is that 1 in 2 of us will be diagnosed with some form of cancer in our lifetime. That’s not a statistic – that’s our mums, our dads, our friends, our co-workers.

Clan Cancer Support is there when people need them most – with empathy, practical help, and real understanding. Supporting them isn’t just about raising money – it’s about standing with every family that’s ever had to hear the words “It’s cancer.”

How can people support or donate, and follow your progress?
If you’d like to follow the journey, cheer me on, or donate – I’d be so grateful. Every step makes a difference.

WEEK 4 STATS – MILES OF SMILES (78-week challenge-started on 01/06/25):

✅ 340 km completed (run, walk, cycle)

✅ 44 cold showers | 10 cold water immersions

✅ £400 raised for SAMH

✅ £325 raised for Clan Cancer Support

Donate if you can:

SAMH – justgiving.com/page/frompaintopurpose
Clan Cancer Support – justgiving.com/page/hopeovercancer

Follow the journey:

Twitter/X: @SmilesRunner
Instagram: @milesofsmilesrun
TikTok: @smilesrunner
Facebook & LinkedIn: Marius Coste