A University careers adviser will take on a gruelling 12 marathons in 12 months to raise money for the Aberdeen neonatal unit.
Kate Robertson, who has worked at the University for nearly seven years, is planning to run each of the 26-mile endurance challenges in recognition of a child who has been treated by the unit.
She was inspired to take on the endeavour by her own daughter, Emily, now aged 7, who had breathing difficulties shortly after her birth.
She was treated in the neonatal unit and was soon well enough to return home with her family but it opened Kate’s eyes to the support offered by the Friends of the Neonatal Unit, run by the Archie Foundation, and she is now hoping to raise £3,000 to support the cause.
Kate completed the Malaga marathon in December to kick off her challenge, which will conclude with the New York Marathon in November.
In January she will run the Doha marathon in Qatar as part of a visit to the University’s Qatar campus to offer careers advice and support to its students.
Kate said: “I’m am a keen runner and a member of Stonehaven running club but this is going to be a real test.
“I’ve run 25 marathons in total so I know what I’m letting myself in for but that has taken me 21 years to achieve so to fit 12 into just a year is going to be tough.
“I will have to plan my recovery time carefully but I’m hopeful that I’ll be able to achieve my goal.”
But it’s not just Kate taking on a challenge to support the neonatal unit, Emily and her older brother, Oliver, will be joining in the fundraising by taking on an Inflatable 5km obstacle race and a two-peaks challenge to reach the top of two munros, Mayar and Dreish.
Kate added: “Thankfully Emily was only in the neonatal unit for three days but it was still a very stressful time. For many families the experience is much more difficult and I wanted to give something back.”
She is still looking for the names of children treated by the special care baby unit to run in their honour and nominations can be made here.
To support Kate please visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/robertsonfundraising