Story
<p>Hey everyone,</p>
<p>Mandy here! Thank you so much for taking the time to visit my 'Just Giving' page.</p>
<p>I'll be running my first half marathon 'The Great Scottish Run' in Glasgow in September this year in tartan in memory of Katie Mckerracher. The trust is a cause close to my heart, Katie attended the same dancing school as my sister and I for years and dancing was her favourite past time, something she was really enthusiastic about, Katie was also a keen horse rider.</p>
<p>On the 28th of February 2008, aged only 10, Katie was sadly diagnosed with a Diffuse Pontine Giloma, A tumour on the brain stem. When this was discovered, it was thought Katie would only live another 6 months or a year.</p>
<p>On the 27th January 2009, almost a year later, after a brave battle and having still attended the dancing school to learn steps and meet with her friends even when in a wheelchair unable to talk or even eat, Katie sadly passed away. She suffered respiratory failure.</p>
<p>Katie losing her life has left a huge gap in her family and friend's lives and her family still take a lot to do with katie's dancing school, provising financial help to dancers from the school and also providing money to help give advice and hope to families who have someone with the same condition as Katie.</p>
<p>The hope is that with the money raised by the Katie McKerracher trust, more research of Diffuse Pontine Giloma can be possible and advice/alternative healing can be provided to families who have a son or daughter suffering from the same condition.</p>
<p>It's a trust very close to my heart as I knew Katie well and I know how much losing her has affected the dancing school and all her friends who go there. Seeing Katie's enthusiasm for dancing and life right up until her sad passing is an inspiration.</p>
<p>As well as running the marathon in September, a group of mum's from the children at the dancing school, including Katie's mum Anne and my mum have learned to tap dance from scratch and will perform a dance live on Hawick Town Hall stage called 'Tap Heavy' in the annual dancing display in September...</p>
<p>Thanks for taking the time to read about the trust, I hope you'll be able to dig deep and donate a small something to Katies trust, the money you donate on this page goes straight to Katie's trust, and you can track my fundraising on this page.</p>
<p>Wish me luck!!</p>
<p>Best Wishes, Mandy xx</p>
<p>for more information on everything else, either follow onb twitter - @katiemctrust or see all the trust are doing to raise money, visit - <a href="http://www.katiemckerrachertrust.co.uk/1.html">http://www.katiemckerrachertrust.co.uk/1.html</a></p>
<p>or visit the trust on facebook at - <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Katie-McKerracher-Trust/82292972337">http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Katie-McKerracher-Trust/82292972337</a></p>
<p>or for more info about anything just drop an email to - <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="color: #0066cc;"><a href="mailto:info@katiemckerrachertrust.co.uk">info@katiemckerrachertrust.co.uk</a> </span></span></p>
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<p>So please dig deep and donate now.</p>