The parents of a Dumfries teenager who died after a brave eight-year battle with a brain tumour are taking on a mammoth challenge in aid of the children’s charity that supported them through the worst years of their lives.
Gary and Kirsty Jardine are preparing to run the New York City Marathon just two months after a fundraising ball that will mark what would have been Brooke’s 18th birthday.
The couple intended to take on the 26-mile run a year after Dumfries Academy pupil Brooke died aged just 15 in October 2019, but Covid stopped them in their tracks.
Now, they are determined to “give something back” to the causes that cared for their daughter while she was ill.
Gary, 51, said: “We wanted to do something significant to mark the one-year passing of Brooke but obviously with coronavirus, we couldn’t do anything.
“So we’ll be running the New York Marathon in November in aid of Young Lives v Cancer.
“Previously known as CLIC, it is an amazing charity which provided incredible and invaluable emotional and financial support during Brooke’s long battle.
“Every penny raised will go towards helping the charity support other children and young adults and their families with the incredible support to help them in their individual battles.”
Before that, on September 3, Brooke’s Ball will take place at the Easterbrook Hall in aid of Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity and Dumfries Infirmary paediatric ward.
Gary added: “It will be a very poignant night for us because when the clock strikes midnight, it will be Brooke’s 18th birthday.
“That event was also supposed to be in 2020 for what would have been her sweet 16th.”
Gary, Kirsty, 53, and Brooke’s sister Skye, 15, had prayed for a miracle that she would recover following the devastating diagnosis in 2011.
Despite life-threatening surgery, three further major operations and chemotherapy, they were left distraught when doctors told them that her tumour was growing aggressively.
In a desperate bid to save her life, they flew to America where Brooke had revolutionary cancer treatment called proton beam therapy.
Fundraising efforts for what had been dubbed Brooke’s Battle were organised in a bid to help the family and the charities helping them.
They were left totally devastated when she died.
Gary said Brooke fought the illness ”with unbelievable courage and determination and with every ounce of energy she had”.
He described her as “the most beautiful, loving, caring, brave and intelligent girl we could ever have asked for and we have been privileged to have been able to call her our daughter and sister”.
He said: “We are well aware it’s a difficult time for everyone at the moment but any little bit of support we get with the fundraising would be so gratefully appreciated.
“We’ve had some extremely generous sponsorship so far from local businesses including Knox Sports, who have sponsored the running trainers for the marathon.
“Please support us over the finishing line by donating anything you can and thank you from the bottom of our and Brooke’s hearts. Our heads still find it impossible to believe that she’s not with us and our hearts remain broken without her.
“Life without Brooke will never be the same again for us. She was loved so much and touched many people’s hearts.”
To make a donation, visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/brookesbattledumfriesfund
Tickets are still available for the ball by contacting Kirsty on 07733166080 or via Facebook Messenger or WhatsApp.
