'This one's for you dad!' – Inverness runner is running solo on Christmas Eve to raise cash for stroke charity
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An Inverness man who planned to run a marathon with his dad, before he had a massive stroke, will now complete the challenge himself.
Kieran Fraser plans to run a marathon on Christmas Eve, in a bid to give hope to his family and others that his dad will be home from hospital for Christmas
Inverness father and son, Neil (52) and Kieran Fraser (21), had hoped to run together, until eight weeks go when Mr Fraser senior was rushed into hospital, after appearing 'fit and healthy' only days before.
Now Kieran is taking on the challenge alone to raise money for Chest Heart and Stoke Scotland saying “this one’s for you dad”
Mr Fraser senior suffered a severe stroke on September 24, something that came as a total shock for the whole family.
Kieran who is in his final year at Aberdeen University, studying accounting and economics, had just gone back to university when he got a phone call to say that his father colapsed and had been taken into hospital.
Kieran explained: “My dad had seemed perfectly healthy when I’d left to go back to uni. We were making plans about him coming down to visit me after the covid restrictions were relaxed. Then late one night I got a call from my step mum Diane, saying that she’d found dad colapsed on the floor and that he’d been rushed to hospital”
“I returned to Inverness the following day to be around my family so we could support each other. It has been a very difficult time for us all, but as dad slowly improves so do we, in the hope that he will make a full recovery.
“Not being able to visit has been difficult for me and I have felt very helpless not being there for him. But I never forgot about our plans to one day run a marathon, so I decided that it was something I could do to help not only him, but many other families who have been going through the same as me. I wanted to raise funds for Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland as my Granny has had two strokes and I know the charity has really helped her, and I know how much she appreciates their help.”
Kieran and his dad had talked about running a marathon for several years. They are both huge sports fans, particularly football and have travelled all over the UK to watch many different matches. They have shared walks and runs with their collie dog and have talked about their dream to complete a marathon together many times.
Kieran explains “We were both really fit, I was playing football four or five times a week but I tore a cartilage in my right knee, and then dad injured his back so any plans we had to run had to be put on hold while we recovered. But we still talked about this run, we never gave up on our dream. I will have to run through the pain barrier but it’s nothing compared to the pain that thousands of families go through every year.
"So Dad, this one’s for you!”
Kieran who has chosen to run on Christmas Eve as it’s an important day for families, continued: “I’ve always been taught that Christmas is a time for family. My hope is that my dad can be home, but either way I will be completing the marathon on Christmas Eve. I have always been very close with my dad and consider him one of my best friends so I can’t image a Christmas without him around.
“I’m hoping to raise as much as I can for this amazing charity that has helped mine and other families through bad times.”
Jane-Claire Judson, Chief Executive at Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland, said: ’It’s people like Kieran, who take on these amazing challenges, that make an enormous difference to those living in Scotland with chest, heart and stroke conditions. The money raised from Kieran’s marathon will ensure that people and their families get the right help and support when they need it most.
To donate visit: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/kieran-fraser
