On the 26th May, Clara, Mia, Rory and I will be running in the Edinburgh Marathon Festival.

It will be a challenge for all four of us: For Clara and Mia, it is their first proper race. Meanwhile Rory and I are desperately trying to beat our less-than-perfect marathon performance in Barcelona last year.

While we are training hard to do ourselves proud North of the Border, it is more importantly to raise money for the fantastic charity Teenage Cancer Trust.

We have all had our lives affected by cancer in one way or another. And as we are putting ourselves through the tough training hours and multiple Compeed plasters, it’s nothing compared to the bravery and resilience of those people battling cancer.

We will be running this race in memory of Murray Stewart. Murray, a dear friend of the McDonalds, sadly passed away in 2019 after fighting brain cancer. He touched the lives of everyone he met, and it's difficult to put into words the impact that Murray had on his friends and family.

The support Teenage Cancer Trust gave Murray during his treatment was unmatched. They helped him overcome the isolation that so many patients can feel, connecting him with countless incredible young people through their group activities and trips to London. Murray was an ambassador for TCT and in 2018 lobbied the Scottish government for a ‘buddy system’ which aimed to connect young people with cancer. Towards the end of Murray's life, the facilities at TCT’s unit at the cancer centre in Glasgow kept him and his family as comfortable and peaceful as possible.

So, while we put ourselves through this bloody run, we know that Murray is with us all the way (and he's probably laughing... we don't blame him!). There's no better cause for us to do it for than TCT. Any and all support is massively appreciated by all of us.

Please share our story and help us raise as much money as we can for this brilliant charity.

Follow our training efforts on Strava below:

Check out Clara Gaspar on Strava https://strava.app.link/0hY7ZTZXfIb

Check out Mia Cairns on Strava https://strava.app.link/nucsMx5XfIb

Check out Rory McDonald on Strava https://strava.app.link/aRvfim1XfIb

Check out Angus Crosbie on Strava https://strava.app.link/u26OGp2XfIb