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We would like to say a huge congratulations to Beatson Cancer Charity Ambassador Carolyn McAlpine for her smashing her £15,000 fundraising target!
Carolyn took on her biggest challenge yet and ran 15 Marathons in 15 Days, running through each local authority area covered by the Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre, from Arran to Stirling. She wanted to highlight how far the Beatson’s services reach across the West of Scotland, after having to make the round trip from her home in Tarbert to the Beatson in Glasgow so many times when her dad needed treatment. It was far from an easy challenge but Carolyn took it all in her stride, thinking about her reasons for doing it throughout.
Here are some thoughts that Carolyn shared on her blog after the 15th marathon.
"Well as dust settles and my thoughts return to normal life challenges (like squeezing these feet into my work shoes for tomorrow's meeting) I just want to take a moment to thank everyone for the support I have received for this challenge.
I take my role as Ambassador for the Beatson Cancer Charity seriously. I always knew why this challenge meant a lot to me, but what I wasn't expecting was how much it would mean to other people. I honestly can't tell you how much other people connecting with the challenge and supporting it spurred me on. It's been overwhelming at times.
I don't think I've quite digested exactly what has just happened. My body certainly doesn't know what's going on right now!!
A number of people have commented on the fact I've been smiling in many of the photos. I won't lie; part of that is down to vanity, but the challenge has been rough at times. I injured my foot early on, and 12 marathons on a stress fracture hurts ALOT. I was prepared to be sore, I'd trained to run with tired legs but what I wasn't prepared for was the fact consecutive endurance actually makes you feel ill. There were days that I felt sick and weak and suffered with fatigue and those were the days I had to rely on mental strength to push on.
But it wasn't all bad; there have been some hilarious moments on this journey and I've met some amazing people who have become friends. I've reconnected with old friends and I've managed to get lost in every local authority area in the west of Scotland!!
Despite our best efforts cancer continues to cast a shadow over many families: those who have to live with it or the aftermath of it, and those who have to live with the loss it has created for them. I hate cancer and I hate what it does to people. Many of you will know that yesterday marked a year to the day since my mum passed away. Every step on that journey and every penny raised by this challenge was two fingers up to cancer. And that, I think, is something to smile about."
