Marching Mistresses (Katie, Aimee, Lindsay, Charlie, Georgina, Lucy and Shileen) are taking part in the 23 mile Kilt Walk to raise money for Pancreatic Cancer Research in memory of Fiona Muirhead (Katie’s Mum❤️) and Martin Doran (Aimee’s dad❤️).

Katie and Aimee were strangers to one another one year ago, and met through a mutual childhood friend. Sadly, what Katie and Aimee had in common was losing a parent very suddenly to pancreatic cancer. Both women have found support in one another in trying to come to terms with their loss and have undertaken to turn their grief into a force for good: raising awareness and funds for pancreatic cancer.

Pancreatic cancer is often diagnosed at a very advanced stage. For many the diagnosis is of “distant cancer” meaning the cancer has spread to another part of the body. Of those who fall into this category, survival is unlikely.

Survival rate has remained largely unchanged for the past 40 years, at less than 5%. This is the worst survival outcome for any of the 21 most common cancers.

Pancreatic Cancer only receives around 1% of National Cancer Research Institute Partners spend. 80% of those diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer are stage 4 or 5 and the outlook is bleak.

Aimee’s dad Martin, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer at the age of 63 on 28 January 2023. Sadly, by this time it had spread to his bones, spine, liver and other organs. Martin survived little over a month following diagnosis, with the final two weeks of his life receiving palliative care. He died on 2 March 2023.

Katie’s mum Fiona, was diagnosed when Katie was 5 months pregnant with her first child in 2023. She had just returned from a months ski trip in Megeve and was complaining about indigestion.

Fiona’s oncologists and Katie’s midwives knew the importance of Fiona meeting Katie’s baby. She fought so hard to meet baby Tara Fiona and she did. Katie had a horrible birth with 5 failed early induction attempts to labour and ended up having an emergency C section. Fiona was taken to the hospice straight after meeting Katie's daughter and didn't leave. She died 13 days later, at the age of 68, in the Prince and Princess hospice in Glasgow.

The money raised in this page will go to the research team lead by Dr Froeling, Fiona’s oncologist. Research for Pancreatic Cancer is vastly underfunded and any donations are greatly appreciated.

If you would like to join our Kilt Walk team, please reach out, the more the merrier.