Devastating diagnosis prompts Ross-shire's Team Patience to step up to Baxters Loch Ness Marathon challenge for Leukaemia UK charity
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A ROSS-SHIRE woman who committed to a fundraising marathon after her brother received a devastating diagnosis has thanked family, friends and the wider community for rallying around magnificently.
Susan Low, who lives in Alness, stepped up to the challenge of the Loch Ness Marathon after brother Billy Patience (45), who is from Avoch, was diagnosed with leukaemia in April.
After she took the plunge for her first marathon, her big brother Simon Patience, and Billy's son, Lewis, stepped up to join her.
Team Patience targeted £1500 for the charity Leukaemia UK, which supports people affected by the condition and other blood cancers and funds research. But as support snowballed, the trio crossed the line knowing they had raised a staggering £7000-plus for the cause.
Susan, whose maiden name is also Patience, said that after years of running 10Ks and half-marathons, she had decided to take it up a notch for her first ever marathon.
She said: "The whole community of Avoch have got behind us and coming from a big family all our relatives have been a huge support. It was a tough run, especially for Lewis who had only done eight miles in training! But we all finished and were delighted with our times. It was a run full of emotion as we were running for Billy and leukaemia research.
"Finishing the marathon I was elated but also emotional thinking of Billy and why we were doing it."
Her brother is still undergoing treatment.
Supportive comments helped with the hard miles required. Lynn Matheson posted: "You are all amazing."
"An amazing effort for a great cause," said Gillian Murray.
Catriona Smith posted: "Such an amazing thing to do and a brilliant cause."
Avoch Post Office also looked after a collection box for the effort.
Someone in the UK is diagnosed with a blood cancer every 16 minutes. Blood cancer is the fifth most common type of cancer in the UK.
Leukaemia UK supports those affected by leukaemia and other blood cancers through the physical, psychological and emotional uncertainty that may come with a diagnosis, working to fund innovative and effective research for better treatments and care.
Over the past 40 years, it has been funding research into leukaemia and other blood cancers.
The fundraising link is https://www.leukaemiauk.org.uk/Fundraisers/team-patience
