Kathryn runs the race of her life for cousin Eilidh

Hamish Hutchinson • Published 16 Jun 2010 13:03 0 Comments

A 13-YEAR-OLD Dollar girl was first to cross the line in this year's Cancer Research UK's Race For Life in what proved to be an extremely emotional 5k both for her and her family who were there to cheer her on.

Kathryn Gillespie came in four minutes ahead of the 2000 plus women who took part in the race in Stirling on Sunday.

Just two days earlier, in the Scottish School's competition in Grangemouth, she won both the 800m and 1500m races in record times.

However, the Dollar Academy pupil, was determined to run the Race For Like following the sad death of her cousin Eilidh Brown only a few months ago.

Eilidh lost her battle with germ cell cancer just days before her 16th birthday in March of this year after battling the disease for a year.

Her death was extremely traumatic for Kathryn and the rest of her family, so although she ran the race last year, this time round it proved to be all the more poignant for her.

Kathryn's mum Amanda told the Advertiser, "Kathryn ran the race last year when Eilidh was alive and fighting the disease but sadly she died in March this year and Kathryn wanted to run the race in her memory and also raise money for Cancer Research UK.

"The whole family's awareness has been raised because of Eilidh, and Kathryn thought it would be a nice idea.

"There wasn't anyone in the family who wasn't affected by Eilidh's death as all the girls are around the same age and Kathryn felt she could do something positive by taking part in Race for Life."

Eilidh's parents have set up a trust in memory of their daughter and are looking to organise a number of fundraising events over the coming months, and are hoping to hold a concert in Stirling University.

Amanda went on, "It was an extremely emotional day for everyone and both Kathryn and I were fine until the minute's silence before the race and then we were in floods of tears.

"Kathryn was in a state from the beginning of the race until the end and crossed the line still in tears - it was a bit of a bitter-sweet day really."

Kathryn isn't the only athlete in her family as her three brothers, Michael, Matthew and Anthony are all champion runners, and her sister Mairi is a successful hockey player, while Amanda is Kathryn's coach.

Her brother Matthew has represented team GB in athletics, whilst her eldest brother Michael is a Scottish champion in distance running and the youngest Anthony represents his school.

And Kathryn's three brothers aren't resting on their laurels - even when they are on holiday - as they are taking part in a men-only event in New York's Central Park to raise money for prostate cancer.

Amanda added, "The boys wanted to do something when we were in New York on holiday and found out about the event in Central Park for Prostate Cancer, which is held on Father's Day."

The Stirling Race for Life proved to be as successful as ever with the number of entries up on last year.

Organisers are looking to change the course next year to make it more accessible and increase the number of people taking part.

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