Colleagues and friends of a young woman who lost her battle with cancer last year have embarked on a six-day trek along Fife Coastal Path in her memory.
Dunfermline speech therapist Nicola Murray was just 34 when her life was cut short by ovarian cancer last April. Health professionals Libby Downie, Hilary Loble and Laura Walton are walking from the Kincardine Bridge to the Tay Bridge to raise money for the Nicola Murray Foundation, which was established by her family, and the hospice ward at Queen Margaret Hospital, where she spent her last few days.
Ms Downie said the trio were “not sporty” but would be spurred on by the other fund-raisers who would be joining them along the way.
She said, “Nicola was only told that she had ovarian cancer in January 2010. The speed of the progression of her illness, resulting in her death less than four months later aged just 34, was a shock to everyone close to her.
“We were privileged to call Nic a friend and we felt something good had to come out of this tragic situation. So we decided to take action. It’s quite a challenge, but we’ve been training for it.”
The Nicola Murray Foundation is a registered charity working with the Edinburgh Cancer Research Centre to fund research into Hereditary Non Polyposis Colorectal Cancer (HNPCC). This syndrome greatly increases the risk of colorectal, endometrial and ovarian cancers at a young age.
The fund-raisers have already raised £1800. To support the cause go to www.justgiving.com/walkfornic.
Photo David Wardle.