HISTORIC and famous buildings throughout Edinburgh city centre have been ‘ticked off’ by a woman with incurable cancer raising funds for a charity close to her heart.

Carol Hudson, of Gullane, joined hundreds of people lining up in the Capital for the Culture Crawl in aid of Maggie’s Centres.

The 53-year-old, who was diagnosed with a brain tumour on Christmas Eve four years ago, was taking part in the fundraiser – which allows people to get inside some of the city’s best-known buildings – for the second year in succession.

The seven-mile route began at George Heriot’s School on Lauriston Place before taking in other well-known locations.

Carol, who has raised more than £600 for the cause, said: “I had my cousin Michael Wonnacott doing the walk with me this year.

“He was really good and gave me that extra motivation when I needed it.

“The cause in itself. . . you would literally walk over hot coals for them.

“The services that Maggie’s are able to provide – I am still using their services – are absolutely brilliant and it is just an amazing place.”

From George Heriot’s, which dates back to 1628, the ‘crawlers’ made their way to other venues such as Edinburgh Central Mosque and Old Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church.

Refreshments were also served along the route and at the stopping points, with everyone setting off at 6.30pm.

Carol, who was followed by her dad, Bill Mabon, in his car as a back-up, became aware of the charity, which is based at the city’s Western General Hospital, after her mum, Grace Mabon, was diagnosed with throat cancer.

She then used Maggie’s herself after being diagnosed with a brain tumour.

The mum-of-two told the Courier that she had found the Culture Crawl physically demanding but it was more than worth the effort.

She said: “Fatigue is the hardest thing.

“It took me from about the Friday through to the Wednesday to fully recover from it.

“I expected that because I was like that the last time.

“You just have to get on with it though.

“There are plenty of other people who are going through awful things in this world.

“You get on with it and there are plenty of reasons to be getting up each day and be smiling.”

The Gullane resident, who worked as a physiotherapist assistant at Roodlands Hospital, Haddington, praised the work of both the charity, which offers free practical, emotional and social support to people with cancer and their families and friends, and the hospital.

She added: “As long as I can, I will do my best for Maggie’s and the Culture Crawl and everything else that comes into it.

“It was such good fun. It is a challenge but the challenge is definitely worth it and they are fantastic at Maggie’s; they really are.”

To make a donation, go to justgiving.com/fundraising/carol-hudson19culturecrawl2017maggies