"Can change people’s lives by doing that" - Alan Soutar set for Guide Dogs Scotland marathon task after seeing effects of charity first hand

Alan Soutar will make his return to the 2026 World Darts Championship later this month, but in the meantime, the Scot is also taking on a very different challenge offstage: the 2026 London Marathon - for a cause close to his heart.

The 47-year-old, who combines his work as a full-time firefighter with the life of a professional darter, is diving into uncharted territory by joining with Guide Dogs Scotland to run the marathon in the British capital.

Although Soutar leads an active life, he is far from a trained runner. Still, he and his wife Amanda are taking on the 42.2-kilometer challenge. "As a 47-year-old, it’s a bit of a leap of faith into the unknown after 20 years of not doing any running,” said Soutar.

“We’re going to do it for Guide Dogs Scotland. We’ve both got in via the ballot, and both got a place in the London Marathon next year. To do it for guide dogs is important to my family and everyone that supports us in Scotland, so it’s a cool charity.

“Also, it’s a kick up the bum to get fitter and do something for somebody else – that’s the main thing.”

Soutar and his wife have been breeding puppies to be trained as guide dogs for more than eight years. Each year they take in a new puppy, which they train from an early age. After their basic training, the dogs go back to the national training center to actually guide blind and visually impaired people. “Amanda and I can change people’s lives by doing that,” recognised Soutar.

“You’re giving someone that’s lost their sight a bit of freedom and their independence back. Any life we can affect in a positive way, I’m going to do everything I can to do it.

“We’re on guide dog number eight now, we got him in mid-November and he’s 16-weeks-old. He’s lots of fun, but the training has only just started!”

“I’ve always been someone that wants to give something back. I live a nice life, I’ve been around the world, so it’s now time to give back to somebody else.”

On the sporting front, Soutar opens his fourth World Championship campaign on Tuesday, Dec. 16, with a match against Teemu Harju, the brand new PDC Nordic & Baltic champion. If the Scot - who made it to the last sixteen each time during his first two appearances at the Alexandra Palace - manages to knock off the Finnish number one, the next possiblity that awaits is European champion Gian van Veen.