FORMER Rangers and Kilmarnock star Kris Boyd has completed a half marathon for charity.

The ex-striker has raised over £5,500 for his own Kris Boyd Charity and the the Darby Rimmer MND Foundation after running 13 miles from Ayr United’s Somerset Park to Kilmarnock’s Rugby Park.

He completed the challenge, which was set by his Lockdown Tactics podcast co-host, Robert Snodgrass, in just over two hours and 15 minutes and smashed his fundraising goal of £2,000 with £5,768 raised at the time of writing.

The money will be split equally between both charities with the Darby Rimmer MND Foundation a cause close to Boyd’s heart after his former teammate Fernando Ricksen died from the disease last year.

The Sky Sports pundit was joined on the run by several supporters and around 50 people turned up to welcome him into Rugby Park.

Boyd told the Advertiser: “It went well but it was absolutely lashing down the morning of the run. We left Somerset Park at 7.45am and finished off at Rugby Park at just after 10am.

“The rain stopped thankfully half an hour into the challenge. The journey was good as I was joined by some friends giving me bottles of water and energy bars which helped.

“When we reached Rugby Park there were about 50 people to cheer us in which was nice.

I thoroughly enjoyed it and it was all worthwhile. I had a few aches and pains but managed to soldier on through it. I was overwhelmed by the generosity of people in donating for two important causes.”

The former Scotland international admitted that at times during the run he was struggling to keep going but he was determined to get through it.

He said: “There was a couple of times during the 13 miles that I hit that block and you just have to remind yourself of why you are doing it and the people you are potentially helping so that is what keeps you going but it did not come easy. Those type of runs in pre-season have never been my forte so it was good to get through it.”

Boyd has now set his sights on completing another challenge for charity next year.

He joked: “There is no way I am doing a marathon but I will jump on a bike.”

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