The charity was founded by Scottish rugby legend Doddie Weir OBE after he was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease in 2017. It raises vital funds to conduct research into the condition which affects the brain and nerves.
Budge and former Melrose teammate of Doddie, Stuart Thom, will be running their five marathons in and around Belfast, and are joined by participants running in Edinburgh, Berkshire, and other locations.
Stuart previously organised The Long Weekend, a 410-mile cycle around Northern Ireland which raised over £16,500 for the foundation.
In total, he has raised more than £180,000 for the charity over the last four years, and is hoping the 5in5 marathon challenge, and a dinner at the Royal Belfast Golf Club, will raise another £75,000.
Budge is a former Scotland captain himself, and earned several caps at the start of his international career playing alongside Doddie.
"I've played with Doddie, and against him, and he's a great guy. He's always the first person who would talk to you, tell stories, and was generally just one of the best guys in the squad," said Pountney.
"MND is a terrible disease and we want to keep people aware of the fact that we're still looking for a cure. The reason why we do big challenges like the long weekend, and the 5in5, is so people talk about it."
"My left ankle is knackered and I haven't been able to go through a full training load. Doddie didn't get the chance to prepare for MND so I don't need time to prepare for 5 marathons. Don't check my pace, but I'll find a way to do it," said Pountney.
The page to donate to the challenge can be found at: <https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/stuart-thom6>
Saturday 12th March 2022: <https://www.strava.com/routes/2916325579258872728>
Day 1 and Marathon 1 starts at finishes at The Stormont Estate, the home of the NI Executive.
Turning right out of the grounds of Stormont, the route heads down Upper Newtownards road towards Connswater then turns left down Castlereagh Road, before turning right onto Ladas Drive then back up Cregagh Road and over Albertbridge towards Ormeau Avenue and down University Road before running most of Lisburn Road.
Cross under the M1 via Finaghy Road North, and head through Andersonstown and along Falls Road, Castle Street and over the Lagan Weir Footbridge. The run continues through the Titanic Quarter, onto Sydenham Road and Airport Road towards Holywood. The run continues under the subway and onto the other side of the bypass on the Holywood side. Following along the footpath, and onto the A55 before taking the parkway where it eventually meets Upper Newtownards road, where the route turns left before finishing back at Stormont.=
Sunday 13th March 2022: <https://www.strava.com/routes/2915613475699238106>
Day 2 starts and finishes at the Bangor Aurora Aquatic centre.
The route leaves from the Aurora before running along Gransha Road to the Circular Road roundabout, as we continue on South Circular Road and West Circular Road before it joins up with Belfast Road. The runners follow Belfast and Bangor Roads towards Holywood, where they head under the subway onto the Coastal path.
The group stays on the path through Seapark, past The Royal Belfast Golf Club, Helen’s Bay Golf Club and Carnalea Golf Club, before circumventing the Bangor Marina until it arrives at Groomsport, before joining the East Circular road and then turns right at the roundabout with South Circular road and back along Gransha Road towards the Aurora centre.
Monday 14th March 2022: <https://www.strava.com/routes/2906954796992493166>
Day 3 is a out and back run, starting from the CIYMS at Belmont park.
Turn left out of the CIYMS carpark and head down Sydenham Avenue onto Holywood Road, along Newtownards road until crossing over the Lagan via the Lagan Weir Footbridge.
The route continues through the Docks, past Clarendon Dock along Carmoyle Street, Duncrue Street, Duncrue Road, before joining the foot path at Dargan Road.
The route is now following the footpath with the Lough on your right, as we pass via Whitehouse, Hazel bank Park and Loughshore Park. We then follow the Shore Road, Belfast Road towards Carrickfergus Castle.
Returning the same route along the loughside path and over the Lagan Weir footbridge and up Newtownards Road onto Holywood road before arriving at Slims Healthy Kitchen on Belmont Road.
Tuesday 15th March 2022: <https://www.strava.com/routes/2906955940213190254>
The penultimate day starts at Helen’s Bay Golf and follows the coastal path until Holywood.
Out of the Golf club follow Church road until you reach the entrance to the coastal path as you head past Grey Point fort continuing West as you pass Rockport school, The Royal Belfast Golf and the Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club towards Sea Park, before crossing the Holywood bypass via the subway and through Holywood towards East Belfast.
Continue down Holwood road and newtownards road before crossing the Lagan at Queens Bridge. Head South along Ormeau Road and cross the Lagan again but over the Ormeau Bridge until you reach Ravenhill Road and now head North to Albertbridge then down Woodstock and cregagh road, before turning left at Montgomery Road then left again onto Castlereagh Road then turn right when you get to Beerbridge Road, then along the Comber greenway until Dundonald before joining up with Upper newtownards road, turn right onto Hawthornden Way, before turning left onto Belmont road for the final mile and finish at Slims Healthy Kitchen for the end of marathon four.
Wednesday 16th March 2022: <https://www.strava.com/routes/2903649249341680056>
The final day starts and finishes at the Kingspan stadium, the home of Ulster rugby. Heading out of the stadium the route starts on Mount Merrion Avenue, joins up with Ladas drive, Grand Parade before it joins as North Road, and we head to CIYMS at Belmont park. At this point the group will run four, 5.25 mile, loops
<https://www.strava.com/routes/2903646904039624958>
Each loop starts and finishes at CIYMS and runs along Cairnburn Road, Old Holywood Road, Massey Avenue, Castlehill road and along Upper Newtownards road and doubles back along the Comber greenway until it reaches Sandown Road, and heads back via Sydenham Avenue to CIYMS, before heading back to the Kingspan Stadium.