An inspirational Lanarkshire school girl born with a life-threatening condition is set to take centre stage in a charity walk.
Isla Stewart-Lindsay, from Rutherglen, will lead supporters of the Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity in a sponsored walk on Sunday, September 4.
The 13-year-old was born with conditions affecting her heart and oesophagus, and underwent major surgery at Yorkhill Children’s Hospital to connect her oesophagus to her stomach when she was a baby.
In 2010, she underwent life-saving open-heart surgery and a second open-heart surgery in 2019.
She later used the Teddy Hospital at the Royal Hospital for Children, funded by Glasgow Childrens Hospital Charity, to relieve anxieties surrounding the surgery.
Since her surgery, Isla has volunteered an incredible 80 hours for Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity.
Isla’s mum Jill Stewart told Lanarkshire Live : “The charity has always been in the background for us – both at Yorkhill and at the Royal Hospital for Children.
“A lot of the milestones like Hallowe'en, Christmas and Easter were spent in hospital, so their support was a vital part of making things feel somewhat ‘normal’ for us.
“One of the first memories I have was coming back to Isla’s cot at a couple of months old and there were loads of Halloween gifts like a cute bib and a hat.
“In 2017, we discovered Isla had to have another heart operation, and she didn’t remember anything she had been through, so there was a lot of preparation that went into preparing her for the heart surgery.
“In that, the charity-funded Teddy Hospital was invaluable. She was able to prepare for what was in front of her through structured play therapy, using real equipment to learn about her upcoming procedures.
“Even Euan, her brother, had some sessions to understand what his sister was about to go through.
“We did the charity’s sponsored walk in 2019, just after her heart surgery. Her consultant was so impressed that Isla managed to walk the distance that she did. We are excited to be involved in it again.
“Seeing the number of lives the charity has touched and all the people that turn up to support them is so humbling.”
The annual walk is returning for the first time in three years and is celebrating the 20th anniversary of supporting families and raising more than £41m in that time.
Fundraisers can choose to walk 3km or 10km on Sunday, with both routes beginning and ending in the idyllic Kelvingrove Park in the city’s West End.
The fully accessible sponsored walk routes are suitable for all the family. Adult entries are priced at £14.
Children of age five can take part for £8 with entry free for little ones up to four years old.
The event is kindly sponsored by family business, Balmore Group (Scotland)
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