Jakarta Java Kini - Jakarta's City Magazine

A gold-hearted Scotsman runs to save others from cancer

K Scott A Thompson  is just an ordinary guy and a busy director of PT. Harum Energy Tbk, but this Scotsman also has a heart of gold to be proud of. He likes to make a difference and to help other people, especially some of the more disadvantaged members of society. A few years ago, he ran the length of the Sahara desert to raise funds for kids with cancer in Jakarta, and this year he ran from Jakarta to Bali along a jaw-dropping 1,250-kilometre route in only 25 days. We caught up with Scott in the cosy Lobby Lounge of the InterContinental Jakarta MidPlaza to talk about his extreme feats of endurance running and how he rises to each and every challenge.

How did all of this running start? Actually, the idea arose spontaneously. When I first came up with the idea, I was thinking about how I could raise a lot of money by trying something that had never been done before here in Indonesia. I had never heard of anyone attempting to run from Jakarta to Bali, so that’s how this all began.

Are You an Athlete? No, I’m not an athlete, I’m just fit. Maybe people see me as an athlete but I have honestly never classified myself as one. [smiles]