A pretty good way to raise cash in memory of Mark

A Lenzie mum has been raising cash in memory of her husband - culminating in leading a team through a charity obstacle course.
By The Newsroom
Published 4th Oct 2016, 11:22 BST
Updated 5th Oct 2016, 14:20 BST
Muddy challengeMuddy challenge
Muddy challenge

Lorna Thomson lost her 40-year-old husband Mark to cancer in July after a short five-month battle with the disease.

Mark was a former pupils of Lenzie Academy and the couple’s two sons, Zakk (7) and Jett (4), attend Lairdsland Primary School.

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Lorna recently led a team of her friends - under the banner of #TeamThomson - at the Race For Life Pretty Muddy 5K obstacle course at Bellahouston Park.

The ladies - Claire Thomas, Julie Ross, Karen Johnston, Carol Fairchild, Joanne McFadden, Elaine Elliot, Claire Ross, Judith McNab and Angela Purcell - managed to tackle every obstacle put in their path to raise over £2,000 for the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation and the Strathcarron Hospice in Denny, where Mark spent the last five days of his life.

Lorna said: “The people at the hospice are truly an amazing group of nurses and carers and looked after both Mark and our families so well.

“The event at Bellahouston Park was amazing. We had such a great time doing it - even if we were absolutely caked in mud - and we are all doing it again next year.”

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It’s just the latest piece of fundraising by Mark’s family and friends.

Lorna explained: “When Mark was first diagnosed in February, we had a fun coffee morning with a bouncy 
castle and face painting for the kids and we raised £1,900 
split between the Beatson, where Mark received his treatment, and The Roy Castles Foundation - where each £50 goes towards half an hour’s 
research into this terrible 
disease.”

On the day of Mark’s funeral, a further £600 was raised for the playpark at the Strathcarron Clinic in Zakk and Jett’s names.

The clinic have used the money to buy a new slide for the park. Lorna said: “This gives us somewhere to visit where they can remember their Daddy.

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“It also gives other boys and girls some joy when visiting the hospice.”

She added: “This is an absolutely devastating thing that has happened to me, my boys and our families.

“I want to say a big thank you to my friends and the 
local people that helped us make such an amazing amount of cash this year for these charities that do not get as much recognition as some others charities.

“And thanks to all those who took part in the Pretty Muddy Day - I know there were other local people who did it for other charities also.

“It really was amazing day for all of us and #Team Thomson rule!”