FAMILY of a much-missed Haddington church minister have run ‘across the country’ thanks to a charity challenge.

Susan Gibson and Elaine Macrae were both set to line up for the charity Maggie’s at the Great North Run this year.

However, when the event was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, the charity, which provides free cancer support and information in centres across the UK and online, decided it would still encourage people to put on their running shoes and help them out.

Maggie’s was there for the Rev Jennifer Macrae, who passed away in March 2018.

Susan, the younger sister of the former minister of St Mary’s Parish Church, Haddington, was pleased to be helping out the charity and thought that her sister would be equally proud.

Susan said: “I think she would be highly delighted that Maggie’s was being supported because they were just so fantastic when she needed them.

“I think anything we can do for them will have her smiling.

“I think Maggie’s has such a feeling that you mention Maggie’s to people and there is a warmth in their response immediately.

“It is so practical and responds to whatever the needs are at that time.

“Everyone who has experience of them is so, so grateful for it and willing to support anything that helps them.”

Miles for Maggie’s, which finished at the end of July, challenged people to run, walk or cycle a total distance of 288 miles.

The number of miles is equal to the distance between the charity’s centres in Aberdeen, Dundee, Glasgow, Edinburgh, the Highlands, Lanarkshire, Fife and the Forth Valley.

Susan and Elaine, Jennifer’s daughter, were joined at the virtual start line in Inverness by Duncan Wallace, Susan’s son-in-law.

The trio ended up covering 315 miles, although Duncan, who lives in Edinburgh, was sidelined by a foot injury.

Susan, 63, said: “We have been doing everything from a five-kilometre run to 22 kilometres, which is the most I have done in a single session.

“Duncan has done 34 kilometres and he did an animal-shaped run.

“Runners use [run and cycling mobile tracking app] Strava and there was something on the go called Strava Art where people plot courses that make a picture.

“One of his friends challenged him to do a run which created a pterodactyl.”

It is not the first time that the family has pulled on their running shoes in memory of Jennifer, who was minister at the Haddington church for more than a decade.

Two years ago, Susan, along with Jennifer’s daughters Laura Burgess and Elaine, nieces Clare Furze and Kara Wallace, and granddaughters Ciara Burgess and Isla Burgess, as well as Laura’s husband Barry and Kara’s husband Duncan, completed a series of running challenges totalling more than 100 kilometres.

Then, they raised £10,000 for Maggie’s, with this year’s challenge topping £2,000.

To make a donation to Maggie’s, go to justgiving.com/fundraising/TeamJennyTheSequel