A DETERMINED mum will run nearly 50 miles in a weekend to once again thank staff at a children’s hospital.

Kayleigh Jamieson-Tait has been a familiar face at the Edinburgh Marathon Festival in recent years.

And, despite this year’s event once again being a virtual challenge, she will again be lacing up her running shoes at the end of next month for the Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity.

Son Jack, 10, was diagnosed with asthma when he was just a few months old, with the family being regular visitors to Edinburgh’s Royal Hospital for Sick Children ever since.

Kayleigh said: “They have given us special moments.

“Obviously, we have had really hard times in hospital but at the same time they have given us special moments that we will treasure for the rest of our lives.

“Jack has been in theatre and he has had operations numerous times.

“Each time, they welcome you in and take you under their wing.

“They have taken Jack down and his teddy, Pluto, goes under anaesthetic and gets a bandage so it looks like Jack and Pluto are matching.

“During Covid last year, they sent out emergency activity packs for the kids and they are there for you no matter what.

“Jack’s nurse put him forward for the children’s health award that he won last year and she said he always just gets on with it.”

READ MORE: Mum and son team up for running challenge

This year will mark the fifth year that 31-year-old Kayleigh has strapped on her running shoes to help the charity.

In 2017, she completed a 5k before turning her attention to a half marathon the following year.

Then, in 2019, she completed the full 26.2 miles before last year taking on a virtual 5k, 10k and full marathon.

Now, she is going for a clean sweep and taking on both the 5k and 10k, as well as a half marathon and full marathon – a total of 48.6 miles.

Kayleigh, who is a support worker at Haddington Care Home, said she had been a keen runner when she was younger.

However, she gave it up after having her daughter Kayla, who is now 14.

It was only when Jack was born that she rediscovered her passion for running and something was “reignited” in her.

READ MORE: Running to thank hospital for being there for her son

The Macmerry resident said it was strange to see how far she had come since then, with the running bug really catching on when she was cheering on others during the Edinburgh Marathon Festival.

She said: “When I was a volunteer on the cheer team, I wanted to be on the other side.

“I thought ‘I want to be doing that’ and I signed up for the half marathon.

“When I did that I thought ‘I’ve got to do the full’.

“Once I did that, I needed more!”

In recent years, Kayleigh, who lives on the village’s Station Court, has raised between £2,000 and £3,000 for the charity.

However, she stressed it was about much more than that.

She said: “It’s not about raising the money but raising awareness for them to show they are awesome.

“I cannot sing them enough praise and I don’t think anybody will understand in our hearts how much we appreciate them.”

To sponsor Kayleigh, go to www.justgiving.com/fundraising/kayleigh-jamieson-tait6