A Stirling mum is set to finally take part in the London Marathon after training for the same event three times.
Clare Moffat, 43, was born and bred in Stirling and lives here with her husband and three children.
Despite having epilepsy herself, Clare has decided to take on the challenge of running the 26.2 mile race to raise vital funds for Epilepsy Research UK (ERUK), the only national charity exclusively dedicated to funding research into epilepsy.
Clare said: “I ran the first Stirling Marathon in 2017 but wanted to raise more and London has always been a bit of a dream since I started running eight years ago.
“I was lucky to get one of Epilepsy Research UK’s places and London 2020 was to be my second and last marathon.
“Instead, I have trained three times for the same marathon - although I did complete the virtual London Marathon around Stirling in October 2020 with many friends and family joining me around the streets of Stirling.
“I’m fortunate in that my epilepsy is fairly well-controlled but, with an estimated 600,000 people living with the condition in the UK, I know that many others are not so fortunate and more research could help them to live a more normal life.
“I have received fantastic practical and financial support from my family, friends, colleagues and my employer Royal London and, with around five weeks to go before the race, I have already raised over £6,540.
“Before lockdown, I also had the opportunity to go into Braehead Primary and talk at a full school assembly and also to do a virtual session for St Ninians Primary. I explained about epilepsy, what to do to help and also that I wasn’t ‘sporty’ at school but that it isn’t always about being the best but also about participating and finding the right sport.
“This will be my second marathon (third if you count the virtual!) but it actually feels more terrifying than the first - but exciting too. I will be four years older and certainly have a few more aches and pains. Training for the same marathon three times has been difficult.
“Not enough is known about epilepsy but it has an impact on so many lives - including my own. I am lucky though as my epilepsy is well controlled although I have now had it for more than three-quarters of my life and fully expect it to stay with me for all of my life.
“Not everyone is as fortunate and their epilepsy isn’t well controlled. I want to run for all of those who can’t run - plus all of their families.
“Even though my epilepsy is well controlled there isn’t a day when I don’t think about it. I won’t run in the dark or do trail runs by myself - just in case and that has an impact on my training. I am blessed in having some great running pals though.”
Mehreen Syed, head of development and events for ERUK, said “Clare has been a much valued supporter of Epilepsy Research UK since 2015. Since then she has not only raised thousands of pounds to support our work to fund vital research into epilepsy, but she’s also raised awareness of epilepsy by speaking frankly about her own experiences.
“We’re thrilled that Clare will be running the London Marathon as part of #TeamERUK this October. We are truly grateful to her for all her continued support.”
