Widow completes marathon effort to raise awareness of prostate cancer
Ally McGilvray • Published 18 Sep 2012 08:20
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A WIDOW completed her first half marathon in memory of her late husband who died of prostate cancer - and then urged other men to get checked for signs of the disease.
Linda Laurie, from Selkirk, who turns 59 next month, ran the Great Scottish Run with her son, Nicholas Osmond, in Glasgow on Sunday, September 2.
She revealed her husband Drew, a former police sergeant based in Hawick, had complained about a pain in his shoulder before he died but never got it checked by his doctor.
The retired nurse pointed out the cancer is treatable if caught earlier enough. And now she hopes by completing the 13-mile race to raise awareness of the disease and the support available.
Speaking to the Border Telegraph after recovering from the run this week, Linda said: "I know quite a few people who have been diagnosed earlier and caught it in time." And she added: "I would encourage men and women as well to push their men to go to the doctor if they see any symptoms or signs."
The former NHS worker was one of only 15 out of more than 20,000 runners to run the half marathon for Prostate Scotland, which was set up to provide information, advice and help on prostate health and diseases of the prostate.
And she raised around £1000 for the charity after finishing in a time of three hours and 19 minutes.
Her husband was a keen runner before he was diagnosed with the disease but he died just three days before his 61st birthday.
Linda, who worked at Borders General Hospital, near Melrose, said: "It was a bit daunting at the start but I feel great after doing it.
"I was hoping to do it in under three hours, and at 11 miles I was on target, but then I got bad shin splints and I had to hobble to the end. It took me 19 minutes to complete the last two miles.
"I hadn't been running as much as I probably should have done beforehand." But she added: "There was no way I was giving up. My heart was pumping and it was a great atmosphere."
To find out more about prostate cancer, including the signs and symptoms, as well as how to raise money for Prostate Scotland, log on to the charity's website - www.prostatescotland.org.uk
This article appeared in Border Telegraph 18 Sep 12
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