A MUM will continue showing her gratitude for a charity that has been there for her son for more than a decade by taking to the start line of the London Marathon.

Kayleigh Jamieson-Tait has raised thousands of pounds for the Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity by completing a number of gruelling running events.

They have all taken place in Edinburgh and Kayleigh, who lives in Macmerry, has raised £5,000 for the good cause.

Her son, Jack, 13, was diagnosed with asthma when he was just three years old.

Since then, the charity, which offers support to seriously ill children from the moment they arrive at Edinburgh’s Royal Hospital for Children and Young People, has been there every step of the way.

Kayleigh said: “They have been our light in our darkest moments.

“Without them, we would not have so many amazing memories that we have got. There is always a person in a red t-shirt to help.

“Raising the money and awareness will never be a big enough thank you for what they have done for us as a family.

“It is just a small token of our appreciation.”

'Serious'

Across the UK, more than 5.4 million people have asthma, which affects the airways that carry air in and out of the lungs.

One in 12 adults and one in every 11 children have asthma.

Kayleigh added: “I don’t think people understand quite how serious asthma can be.

“It is not just breathlessness.

“It can be debilitating, it can kill people and, unfortunately, Jack has been one of those who has been in the hospital for lengthy times.

“He has been on oxygen, he has had multiple scans and tests for how much scarring tissue is on his lungs.

“All the infections can cause more trouble when older.

“When Jack gets blue-lighted into hospital, rushed through the doors and doctors rally round his bed, it is scary, very scary.”

Fittingly, Kayleigh, who is a support worker, was in London when she found out that she had secured a place on the start line.

Last year, more than 48,000 people completed the 26.2-mile course.

Kayleigh, who also has a 17-year-old daughter, Kayla, received an email confirming the good news but had to get her husband Gary to open the message because of her nerves.

Now 34-year-old Kayleigh is counting down to taking on the course for the first time.

Training is going well for the event, which takes place on April 21.

Kayleigh said: “Everybody I have spoken to says you could run the London Marathon 100 times and will notice something different every time.

“I think it is just the crowd and the people on the day – the whole atmosphere of it.”

Go to justgiving.com/page/kayleigh-jamieson-tait-1704445059595 to make a donation.