A COUNTY mum of two with incurable cancer is getting ready to take in some of Edinburgh’s top sights to raise much-needed funds for charity.

Carol Maguire was diagnosed with a brain tumour on Christmas Eve three years ago and has set about raising money and awareness of Maggie’s.

On September 23, she will set off with more than 100 other people on the Culture Crawl in Scotland’s Capital – a tour of some of the city’s most famous landmarks.

Maggie’s offers free practical, emotional and social support to people with any type of cancer, and their families and friends.

The Gullane resident first became aware of the charity, which is based at the Western General Hospital, after her mum, Grace Mabon, was diagnosed with throat cancer.

Then, when Carol, who was diagnosed with a second tumour earlier this year, was diagnosed she became fully aware of what the charity was all about.

She praised the efforts of staff and volunteers who helped her through surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. She said: “It is the kind of place that you think would be quite a solemn place.

“You could not be further from the truth.

“You walk in and there is always somebody there to greet you.

“You can always get a coffee, a biscuit and a laugh, which is vital.”

The Culture Crawl gets under way at the grounds of Fettes College at 6.30pm.

Then, those taking part take in a number of key sites, monuments and buildings throughout the city.

Carol, who is mum to Conor, 20, and Kieran, 18, said: “I had heard of the Culture Crawl before.

“I’m not quite sure but I think this might be the second one in Edinburgh – there have been various ones throughout Great Britain and I remember hearing about it last year but was not in a position to be able to do anything.

“It was being advertised at the turn of the year and I just really liked the sound of it.

“It is a 10-mile walk around Edinburgh, which as you know is not a flat place to walk, so it is quite a challenge.

“We have the chance to go into various buildings that you might not get a chance to go into, or certainly get into in the evenings.

“It starts at 6.30pm at Fettes College and the other places in Edinburgh include the Scottish Storytelling Centre, Royal Bank of Scotland at St Andrew Square and Parliament Hall. It is just a chance to fundraise but also to have a bit of a laugh as well and join others who are doing the same, and it is all for Maggie’s. It will make me very proud and feel blessed to be able to be part of this wonderful event.”

Carol, who previously took to the sky above East Lothian with a microlight flight from East Fortune alongside her fiancé Bill Hudson, has been getting ready for the walk alongside her six-year-old dog, Roxy.

Fifty-two-year-old Carol, who worked as a physiotherapist assistant at Roodlands Hospital in Haddington, added: “It has made me more determined to do things that I really want to do. I’m really passionate about Maggie’s and raising funds for their next extension. I want to enjoy life and not take anything for granted.

“As many people with cancer say, it is all about making the most of every day and just living life as much as you can.”

Go to www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Carol-Maguire