A BORDERS youngster has done his part to help raise money to replant trees after last year’s storms.

Rueben Rose took on a marathon challenge to run around the wetlands next to St Ronan’s Primary School in aid of the Woodland Trust.

The eight-year-old set himself the challenge of running the equivalent of a marathon in 31 days, but managed to complete it in 23 days and almost quadrupled his fundraising target.

He said: “I ran around the wetlands everyday.”

For a part of his challenge Rueben had COVID-19 but this didn’t stop him from completing his miles.

Rueben said: “I ran around my garden 20 times which makes up a mile.

“People have been very generous.”

Rueben set himself a target of raising £105 which helps cover the cost of planting one copse of community woodland.

At the time of publication he had raised £400 for the charity.

Rueben was inspired to take on this challenge after seeing fallen trees on walks with his dad, Gareth, in the woodlands around Innerleithen as well as conversations with his friends at school about the environment.

Gareth, who joined Rueben on a few of the runs around the wetlands, added: “We’d gone for walks up a big hill known as ‘Rocky’ which leads up to the old reservoir.

“So, we walked along that earlier in the year and it was amazing how many trees had been blown down in the storms and I think that got Rueben thinking a wee bit.”

Rueben said: “I wanted to plant trees because there were loads of trees cut down and we need to plant more.

“Animals are losing their habitat and animals have as much a right to live as humans.”

To support Rueben’s fundraiser, visit: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/rueben-rose