A dad from Giffnock is taking on a series of inspiring challenges over the next four months, in tribute to his "wonderful" mum who sadly lost her life to heart disease.
The dad of two is set to take on gruelling challenges over the next four months, including running the London Marathon, cycling 26 miles for 26 days in May, walking from Glencoe to Glen Nevis in under 12 hours and will remarkably climb 26 Munros during the month of August.
Ewen Cameron, 55, shared his families heartbreak when they lost his loving mum and granny, Janette Cameron, who died of heart disease in 2019, he now hopes to raise thousands of pounds for the British Heart Foundation.
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He said: "My mum was a wonderful lady, hard-working and immensely proud of her family. She was a very talented home cook and I have brilliant memories of the parties with friends and family that she hosted with my Dad when I was growing up.
"She loved nothing better than teaching her grandchildren to bake. My mum is never far from my thoughts and the reason that I am so passionate and committed to raising money for the British Heart Foundation.”
As time draws closer, Ewen admits to feeling anxious, "I am wondering what on earth was I thinking!".
"But, I thought this would be a great way of keeping fit and motivated through the summer, and of course raise money for a charity that is very close to my family’s heart."
Ewen's 12 year-old son Fraser will also take part in the walking and climbing challenges in June and August, and it's not the first time the young boy has raised money for the BHF. In 2020, Fraser won a BFH Young Heart Hero Award after he raised more than £3000 by walking 100 miles alongside his Dad, trekking the trail from Skye to Crieff.
The inspiration behind the fundraising is what's keeping the pair motivated.
Ewen's demanding preparations are well underway, as he admits that the training schedule has been quite exhausting.
“It has been hard at times. Having to go out and run in the cold and dark over the winter months can be challenging – especially when the weather is miserable. But you just have to get your head down, stick to your training plan and keep telling yourself, it will all be worth it in the end.
"At my age the biggest stressor has been a potential injury, but so far so good. Raising money for the BHF is a massive motivation for me and where there is a will, there is always a way.”
Son, Fraser said: “I really enjoyed doing the long-distance walk with my Dad and I just couldn’t believe it when I won a BHF Heart Hero Award. My granny was very special and we still miss her. She taught me how to bake and always took care of everybody. That’s why we want to raise as much money as we can again, to help people like granny.”
The British Heart Foundation is currently funding more than £50 million in research in ten universities across Scotland, including at its Centres of Research Excellence at the universities of Glasgow and Edinburgh.
David McColgan, Head of BHF Scotland, said: “To take on just one of these challenges would be a feat but to do all four – well, that’s truly inspiring. We want to wish Ewen and Fraser all the very best for what lies ahead and will be with them in spirit every step of the way. It’s only thanks to people like Ewen and Fraser that the BHF can continue to fund research to help keep families together and we are so grateful to have their support.”
You can donate to Ewen’s challenge here https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ewen-cameron5.
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