Man in a tartan bra ran West Highland Way in three days

A devoted brother has raised over his target of £10k by running The West Highland Way in three days and then climbing Britain's highest mountain.
Alan with his sister Julie.Alan with his sister Julie.
Alan with his sister Julie.

Civil engineer Alan Blacklaws (38) has raised £10,920 by climbing Ben Nevis, following his run of the West Highland Way which started in Milngavie on August 25 - while wearing a tartan bra.

Alan’s sister, mum-of-two Julie Strelley-Jones (44) has incurable inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) - a rare and aggressive form of the disease not usually identified by a lump in the breast.

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Father-of-one Alan, who now lives in Edinburgh, said: “I don’t think Julie ever imagined she’d have to fundraise for treatment. She has been living with IBC since 2012. Following intense treatment she was found to have secondary breast cancer in 2014 and the disease had spread to her liver, lungs, bones and brain.

“Her body is starting to struggle with the ongoing chemotherapy treatment and so we are now raising funds for treatments unavailable on the NHS, in the UK and abroad. Our family and friends will try to do anything we can to give her more time with us.”

A civil engineer with firm Sweco, Alan began training in February and has put in around 60 hours and over 400 miles in preparation.

For details on how to donate, please visit https://www.gofundme.com/24ed2hfb. Alan’s challenge can also be supported through Facebook – Man in a bra.

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For London-based Julie, a former teacher, Alan’s fundraiser means the world. She said: “I am extremely proud of my brother and it means everything to me. Thank you so much to Alan, his support team and to all those who have donated.”

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