A keen runner is getting set to run a charity marathon this weekend in honour of his late mother.
Jamie Armour, from Ayr, will be raising vital funds for The Brain Tumour Charity by running 26 miles in and around Ayr on Sunday, March 21 on what would have been his mum’s 61st birthday.
Jamie’s mum, Karlene Mackie, was first diagnosed in August 2011, after showing signs of forgetfulness, being off balance and sleeping a lot more than normal.
Jamie, 37, said: “She was complaining of back pains and was getting scans just on that, up until my step dad asked the back doctor about some of the symptoms mum had been showing.
“He put him in touch with a neurologist who arranged for a new scan and we got a call from him the next day asking to take her to the Southern General Hospital in Glasgow straight away.
“She then had an operation which was to relieve what turned out to be a lot of fluid on her brain and also had a biopsy which revealed the devastating news that she had a grade 4 malignant brain tumour.
“We could have got treatment but were advised that this would maybe add only a few days on to her life and it was decided that this was not worth the pain and discomfort to mum who was feeling awful anyway.
“We were lucky enough to get her in to the Ayrshire Hospice a couple of weeks later around the September 1, 2011, where she was well looked after and passed away here on September 16 just 5 weeks after diagnosis.”
A decade on after the family lost Karlene, son Jamie is taking on his marathon challenge to raise funds and awareness during Brain Tumour Awareness Month of March (BTAM).
His marathon route finishing line is all the more poignant as this is where Jamie’s mum’s ashes are scattered.
And Jamie is asking for anyone who sees him on his run to give him a much-needed cheer of encouragement.
Jamie said: “Running a marathon is something I’ve wanted to do for a long time but just never got round to or always found an excuse not to.
“Training through lockdown has been good on many parts; working in hospitality I would normally find it hard to include this sort of training into my week so to take a positive out this whole lockdown experience and using the time to do something positive is a good feeling.
“All my training has been in and around Ayr, Prestwick and Troon, which is where my marathon route is going to take me; setting off from my home in Belmont at 9am going through Ayr and Prestwick, up as far as Barassie golf course and pretty much the coastal route down to Greenan shore.
“This is not only where my finish line will be but also where we scattered mum’s ashes, so it holds great sentimental meaning.
“Obviously this my own low key event and without the cheering of a normal crowd I would love to hear some encouragement along the way – obviously keeping to restrictions and social distancing guidelines – so please feel free to get out and give me a cheer if just on your daily walk.“
Jamie will start off just after 9am on Hillfoot Road, passing through Adamton Road, Troon cycle track, Troon and Ayr beach promenades and onto the finish line at Greenan Shore, aiming to finish at about 12.45pm.
He added: “All the support I have and may yet receive, whether being through sponsorship or encouragement, is hugely appreciated and I can’t thank everyone enough for this.
“As a family we have witnessed first-hand how devastating this disease can be and hope this can be a step towards helping others avoid it.”
Katie Sharkey, senior community fundraiser at The Brain Tumour Charity, said: “We are extremely grateful for all the efforts made by Jamie this Brain Tumour Awareness Month. He has set himself a huge challenge this Month.
“We know a marathon is such a big commitment and running one with no big crowds to cheer you on is mental challenge as well as a physical one.
“We hope that locally people with cheer him on and support him when they see him out and about on and before his challenge on the 21st.”
Jamie is aiming to raise £1,600 for The Brain Tumour Charity through his JustGiving page called ‘Jamie’s Marathon in memory of mum’.
To donate, visit here.
This Brain Tumour Awareness Month (BTAM), The Charity is shining a spotlight on BRIAN, their ground-breaking app designed to support and mobilise everyone, whether they’re living with a brain tumour, caring for someone who is, or working in healthcare or research.
Find out more about BRIAN here.
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