Published: Thursday, 4th October, 2007 09:00
Mum’s great run
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A YOUNG mum, inspired by her son, has raised £1,000 for Edinburgh’s Sick Kids Hospital by running the Prestonpans Half Marathon – just eight months after taking up jogging to meet new people and lose weight.
Leanne Joss, 27, of Struan Wynd in Prestonpans, raised the cash for the hospital where her one-year-old son Regan is to soon have an operation for the birth defect hypospadias.
The condition occurs in about four out of every 1,000 male births where the urinary tract is not at the top of the penis, but on the underside, and Regan requires surgery.
Mother-of-three Leanne, who lives with partner Paul Ramsay, started running in February at the Jogscotland classes at Meadowmill Sports Centre, which are taken by the half marathon’s organiser Julie Aitken.
The legal adminstrator took the classes up to meet new people and also to lose weight after gaining the pounds when she was pregnant with Regan.
Leanne was 10st 5lbs before she became pregnant and went up to 12st 4lbs after Regan was born, but the classes have helped reduce her weight to a svelte 9st 3lbs.
“I wanted to get to know people when I first moved here a year ago and I needed to lose weight after Regan’s birth so I thought the classes were perfect for me,” said Leanne.
“You start off with 30 seconds of running and three minutes walking and gradually build it up from there. The classes are very sociable as we have coffee afterwards and they’re only a pound each session.”
Leanne said she’s nervous about her boy going into hospital as he could be in for up to a week, but as she was running the half marathon, she thought it was a good way of giving something back to the hospital.
“I wish I had done the race quicker now because I got a bit lazy towards the end,” she admitted, after crossing the line in two hours, 19 minutes.
“Julie (Aitken) also gave me loads of encouragement and I’d like to thank everyone for their support and donations.”
Leanne – who’s still taking donations for the Sick Kids (call her on 01875 818865) – hopes to run the Edinburgh Marathon next year.
Race organiser Julie said: “Seeing Leanne and all the others from the class go from 30 seconds running to a half marathon in such a short space of time is inspirational.
“It’s a huge achievement for her and I nearly cried on Thursday when she presented me with a huge bunch of flowers. She’s a lovely girl.”
Jogscotland classes are at Meadowmill every Thursday at 7pm and also on Mondays and Saturdays.
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Honoured by Her Majesty