In a short video Swinney said he had been out for a run on Friday morning and had completed a marathon in support of the Doddie Aid challenge.
The annual Doddie Aid campaign aims to help people start off their New Year by shaking off their January blues and getting involved in raising money for the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation.
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The charity invests in crucial research to find treatments for motor neuron disease (MND) and for a cure.
Posting to X/Twitter Swinney, who was wearing a blue beanie hat with the Doddie Aid logo, encouraged people to take part in a campaign saying that it is a “great way” to help raise awareness for the cause.
He said: “I’ve just been out for a run this morning and as a result of that I’ve now completed a marathon for Doddie Aid over the course of the last couple of weeks.
“I hope to do the same again over the remainder of January.
“It’s a great way to raise awareness about MND research and to keep fit and healthy so, all good wishes to everyone else who has taken part in the Doddie Aid challenge.”
Since the start of January, I have clocked up a marathon @doddie_aid. Here is a wee update 👇 pic.twitter.com/v2YFgEZsfc
— John Swinney (@JohnSwinney) January 16, 2025
In 2021 Doddie Aid was founded by former Scotland captain Rob Wainwright to help raise funds for the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation – the charity that Wainwright’s former teammate and friend, Doddie Weir, began.
Doddie Aid is the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation’s most successful campaign to date with more than £5 million raised for MND research, and 100,000 people have taken part, and more than 9.5 million miles being logged.
The virtual mass-participation exercise campaign began on January 1 and runs for five weeks with all participants receiving a free snood for taking part.
The charity said that any form of exercise counts and anyone who is interested can sign up here and take part in the challenge.