I’ll be taking part in ‘Stirling’s Toughest’ (8.4km) on the 4th November to hopefully raise some money to give back to the place that saved my little brother’s life.

After sustaining a head injury through a game of football, Owen became severely ill and within days had to be airlifted from Wick to Aberdeen and then to Edinburgh’s Royal Hospital for Sick Children.

It was soon realised that Owen’s life was at serious risk due to the development of a subdural empyema (abscess on his brain). Owen’s health quickly deteriorated after becoming paralysed down the right side of his body and losing much of his speech. After an initial attempt to clear the infection failed, Owen had to undergo an emergency craniotomy (removal of part of his skull to expose the brain and wash out as much infection as possible). Following the operation, Owen developed pancreatitis and a severe skin rash due to the strong antibiotics he was prescribed.

Despite these setbacks, the incredible staff at Edinburgh’s Royal Hospital for Sick Children (along with my mum and David) never left my brother’s side. Without their support, he might not be with us today.

No amount of money can repay the debt we owe to Edinburgh’s Royal Hospital for Sick Children, but to be able to give back something little would mean the world to both Owen and our family.

All proceeds will go towards leisure equipment for long-term paediatric in-patients.