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I am so proud to be running the 2024 London Marathon in honour of my late Dad, John (or big Jock as many knew him) and raising money for PKD charity and here is my story why…

My dad has been my hero all my life! He loved a laugh, his football and most importantly, his family! He was such a huge character and always tried to make others laugh telling us all of his funny stories of how he travelled the world with his beloved Glasgow Rangers!

What a lot of people may not have known (until his final years) was that he lived all his life with the silent killer Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) and was taken from us far too soon at just 61 years old. At 61 he died suddenly as a result of the other complications the disease and its treatment can cause. 

PKD is the World’s most common inherited life threatening condition. It causes uncontrolled growth of cysts in the kidney eventually leading to kidney failure. People with PKD can also experience the following complications:

• high blood pressure
• persistent or recurrent urinary tract infections
• blood in the urine 
• cysts on the liver or pancreas
• abnormal heart valves
• kidney stones
• aneurysms (bulges in the walls of blood vessels) in the brain, which can bleed causing a stroke
• diverticulosis (small pouches that bulge outward through the colon).

PKD slowly affected my dad’s life and health so much when he was in his late 30’s/ early 40’s. Eventually he had to retire at just 45 years old and had to attend dialysis 3 times a week to keep him alive. The intensity of dialysis took its toll on his body causing other problems and illnesses. My dad had been on the waiting list for a transplant for many years but unfortunately when his kidney match was found, he was too unwell to go through with the op!

He had many hospital admissions throughout his life. Two of which were major surgery to remove his kidneys. In 2004, during my final year at university, my dad spent 1 year in hospital due to other complications that kidney dialysis can cause. He missed so many important parts of our life due to his illness but the one thing that everyone loved about him was that you’d always find him the same way. He left a mark on many people’s lives; especially all those amazing NHS workers. From the porters who transported him to and fro, to the amazing nurses and doctors who treated him to keep him alive. A special mention goes to the John Lynch Renal Unit at Crosshouse hospital for their exceptional care!

My dad’s sudden passing left such a hole in our hearts. He died 4 weeks before the birth of my youngest daughter Grace and he never got to meet his youngest grandson Zack who was born 4 months later. My mum has been denied the chance to enjoy her retirement with my dad! That is why I’m beyond proud to give something back and run the 2024 London Marathon in his honour, to raise money for the PKD charity.

What people may not know is that my sister, Heather, and I have inherited this disease from my dad! So raising money for PKD is so important to us to help fund future research and support for families going through this cruel disease! We have seen first hand what this disease can do to your body and the affect it has on your loved ones. We are devastated that my dad never got to see his 4 grandchildren grow up. He was taken far too soon!

2024 is also the year I turn 40 and this milestone is a bit bittersweet for me as it was in my dad’s 40’s that his health began to deteriorate. I am lucky not to be affected too much at this stage and I take new medication that hopefully will slow the progression of the disease. But this really is a once in a lifetime chance for me!

My dad loved the London Marathon and would be so proud that I’m going for it having only started running over a year ago! I am more determined than ever to achieve this almighty challenge and I know my dad will be with me every step of the 26.2 miles 💙

Thanks for taking time to read my story and I am so grateful for any donations.  

Gillian xxx

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