Superstar Lily runs up cash for Highland Hospice with a two-mile run around Inverness with her marathon granny Liz Gray
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Parents of a six-year-old hospice fundraiser were surprised when she announced that she wanted to run two miles to help the charity.
Lily Gray’s mother Marie-Anne Vrac works as the hospice’s trading company manager and the youngster refers to the cause as “mummy’s charity”.
She completed her run under the watchful eye of her grandmother, Liz, who is a keen runner and is married to former Inverness Provost Jimmy Gray.
So far it has generated more than £1600 for the cause.
Their route began in Dores Road, up through the new housing estate there and around Whin Park before finishing at the hospice.
Miss Vrac, of East Mackenzie Park, said: “She’d never done it before – she had done short runs with her granny on occasions but she’d never run that kind of distance before, so she did have to train for it.
“She went out three or four times a week throughout February to build up her stamina, depending on the weather.”
And when she reached the end of her run, the Drakies Primary School pupil was obviously pleased with her achievement.
Miss Vrac said: “She was bouncing, she was full of energy, she’s got energy to sell I think.
“She was delighted that she had managed to do her two miles without stopping. She did get a stitch so she had to slow down at one point, but she was just so proud of herself, which was good.
“Granny was good at keeping her going – she had told her how to breathe to get past the stitch. She didn’t walk, she just slowed down a bit, and took deep breaths and she finished the run.”
As a reward, her grandmother – who has completed numerous marathons, half marathons and 10k runs – bought her a little medal and cup to recognise what she had done.
Miss Vrac said the hospice had been an obvious choice for Lily, adding: “She hears about the hospice a lot obviously from me and one day she decided to go for a run with her granny, because Liz loves running, and just came up with this idea
“It’s an excellent cause and we need people to remember we are here – even in the hard times.
“I’m so proud of her and the fact that she came up with it herself as well is great, and she’s taken an interest in what the hospice does.
“She understands the impact that Covid-19 has had on our fundraising. I am just so proud that she thought she could do something to help. At six years old, it’s pretty impressive.”
Lily said: “I just thought it would be nice to help the people who are sick.
“I felt good during the run and I felt proud at the end.”
Hospice fundraiser Katie Gibb said: “Lily is such a superstar for completing her training with her granny Liz and running the two miles.
“Well done to Lily for raising over £1600 for the hospice.”
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