This year, the 6 McKay women and our cousin Barry have decided to do the Great North Run as a one-off special fundraising event in memory of our husband, Dad and Uncle - Jim McKay.  The charity we have chosen to support is the Brain and Spine Foundation which provides support to brain tumour sufferers and their families.

Jim McKay was loved by all who knew him.  He died 7 years ago after bravely battling a malignant brain tumour for a year.  Anyone would tell you he was one of the nicest guys you could ever meet, and though he never once asked why him, we thought it all the time.

Seven years on, the family numbers have been swollen by the 8 grandchildren he didn't survive to see born and the 3 sons-in-law from the weddings where he wasn't there to walk us down the aisle.  To try and get across to all his 10 grandchildren what a special man their Papa was is impossible and it makes us all so mad that this terrible disease has robbed them of a Papa they would have adored.

We won't ever do this again, so please dig deep and help us raise as much money as possible in Dad's memory.  He'd never believe that we'd all be out there doing a half-marathon for him - especially Mum who will be only 2 months shy of her 65th birthday!  (she'll kill me for that bit but surely Mum's effort alone is worth an extra wee bit onto whatever you were thinking of donating!!)

Thanks for sponsoring us,

Margaret, Evelyn, June, Gwen, Ann, Val and Barry.

UPDATE - 5/10/08

Mission accomplished!! All finished safe and sound. We're absolutely shattered and hurt in places we didn't know existed. What an emotional day. We are so grateful to everyone who sponsored us. It was more than we could have ever dreamed of raising.  We're sure dad was looking down on us throughout the race and know he would have been so proud of "his girls." Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. x

Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. It’s also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Brain and Spine Foundation gets your money faster and, if you’re a UK taxpayer, Justgiving makes sure 25% in Gift Aid, plus a 3% supplement, are added to your donation.