A DETERMINED mum is pulling on her running shoes in a bid to tackle her first marathon.

Kayleigh Jamieson-Tait will take to the start line at the Edinburgh Marathon – just 24 hours after completing a five-kilometre run in the city.

However, she will definitely have one young supporter cheering her on – her son Jack, who is aiming to complete the 1.5-kilometre event as well.

Kayleigh, of Macmerry, told the Courier her friends thought she was “off her head” when she told them she was running a marathon and the five-kilometre event.

She will be decked out in red, showing her support to the Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity to thank them for the support they have given Jack.

The 29-year-old said: “Jack has asthma but it is very poorly controlled.

“It is getting better now but he was on nebulisers and antibiotics and was on them for two years straight.

“He has had asthma since birth but they did not diagnose it until he was about three.

“He has had issues since he was a baby.

“It affects him with his school.

“He sometimes thinks he is different because he cannot run as fast as the other children.”

Eight-year-old Jack, who is in P4 at the village’s primary school, has to go to hospital for reviews and check-ups every three months.

Earlier this month, he spent time in hospital after being diagnosed with a chest infection.

His mum said the staff at the hospital “made a real difference” and helped the youngster feel at ease.

Now, she is hoping to raise as much awareness and money as possible for the good cause, which supports and complements the work of Edinburgh’s Royal Hospital for Sick Children.

Kayleigh completed a 5k at the Edinburgh Marathon Festival in 2017 before stepping up to the half marathon last year.

In less than six weeks’ time, she will tackle the 5k on Saturday, May 25, before going on to complete the marathon, which covers much of the East Lothian coastline before finishing at Pinkie Playing Fields in Musselburgh on Sunday, May 26.

On the Saturday, Jack will also be pulling on his running shoes and taking on the 1.5k event in the Capital.

Kayleigh said: “I think a marathon has always been a goal but I thought my time had passed.

“I’m now nearly 30 but I am going to do this.

“I am going to give back – even if it is just raising awareness. It is not about money – it is about getting the name out there.

“This is my first marathon but hopefully not the last.”

To support Kayleigh and Jack, go to justgiving.com/fundraising/kayleigh-jamieson-tait4