Two caring Lanarkshire school teachers are taking part in the Great Scottish Run to raise money to help build a memorial to little Faye Taylor, who died last month from a brain tumour.
Emma Hamilton and Carly Willcocks, both teachers at the Berryhill Primary, will be running the 10k in Glasgow on Sunday, October 2 in memory of the nine-year-old from Craigneuk.
The youngster was diagnosed in May this year with a tumour deep in her brain stem, specialists told her devastated family that it was inoperable.
Despite undergoing intensive radiotherapy to try and slow the progression of the tumour, little Faye passed away on August 17 leaving the family and the school community heartbroken.
Emma taught Faye as her P4 blended learning teacher, while Carly had been her teacher when she was in P3.
They are the first to admit they are not keen runners but decided to take on the challenge following discussions about installing a memorial garden in the school grounds for Faye who was a P5 pupil.
Emma said: “We’re absolutely not runners, we started training a few weeks ago - two or three days a week. I managed 10k this morning before work, which is a first for me. I do go to the gym but it’s weight lifting and classes I do, but not running.
“Hopefully the crowd in Glasgow watching will help cheer us on. Carly is the same as me but she doesn’t go to the gym. We actually decided we would run it to raise money to help Faye make memories but she deteriorated so quickly that it’s now going to be for a memorial.
“We’ve not fully decided what it’s going to be yet, if it’s going to be a garden, but it will be in the school grounds. It will be something the community can use and remember her.
“Faye is a huge loss to us in the school and the community, it’s been horrible.”
The teachers also organised a 15k walk for Faye just before the summer holidays, which the youngster’s dad and brother went along to.
Faye’s mum Elaine was one of the first people to donate to the teachers’ latest fundraiser, and said: “Thank you so much for all your kindness and support and we are so grateful for the upcoming memorial garden. Faye was a true inspiration and fought till the end without any complaints and this is just amazing. Thank you all.”
Emma and Carly will set-off from George Square and follow a route past some of Glasgow’s most famous landmarks, along the River Clyde and through some of the city’s greenest spaces finishing at Glasgow Green.
You can donate at: gofundme.com/f/vdjwhg-in-memory-of-faye?
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