Costa drive-through manager targets Loch Ness Marathon to help poverty-hit coffee growers
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A HIGHLAND coffee shop manager is hoping to tackle the Loch Ness Marathon to help eradicate poverty in coffee-growing communities across the globe.
Diogo Monteiro, who is 32 , manages the drive through Costa coffee at Inshes Retail Park and is planning to run to raise funds for the Costa Foundation.
He initially started his training last year with the initial goal of completing an Ironman challenge – more specifically the CELTMAN! Extreme Scottish Triathlon – within two years.
However, more recently he has decided to do the Highland marathon later this year.
"So far with their charitable work the foundation has given the opportunity to over 90,000 people to have access to education.”
He said: “The Loch Ness Marathon comes into place exactly at the right moment where I can test my current level of fitness and prepare my body and my mind for the next challenge.
“The Loch Ness Marathon will take place on October 3, and the aim is to complete the 26.2 miles under three hours and 20 minutes.
“I train five to six days a week, mainly running but also cycling and strength. This will be my second marathon, so I am confident that I will complete my objective.”
Mr Monteiro said he had chosen to support the foundation because of its “amazing work” helping to build more than 90 new schools in coffee-growing communities around the world.
He added: “In places like Columbia, Ethiopia, Uganda and Vietnam, the Costa Foundation is stepping in and really supporting the local communities by building or extending schools, investing in water supplies, providing electricity, building land for local families to grow crops in – the list goes on. So far with their charitable work the foundation has given the opportunity to over 90,000 people to have access to education.”
Mr Monteiro is married to Patricia and the couple have two sons – seven-year-old Brandon and five-year-old Scott.
He is hoping to raise £1000 for the cause and so far he said the response to his campaign had been amazing.
He added: “Just in the first week we have reached more than 20 per cent of our target.”
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