Kayleigh Jamieson-Tait completes London Marathon for charity

Kayleigh Jamieson-Tait was among the tens of thousands of people taking to the streets of London for the city’s marathon last month.

The Macmerry mum took on the challenge in aid of Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity, which has supported her and her son Jack.

However, despite being blown away by the experience, she told the Courier that there were tough moments and the thought of helping the charity got her through.

She said: “You do hit mental blocks.

“As I think about a mental block, I think about those children hitting mental blocks.

“They go through far harder times than I do.

“Jack has been really poorly for the last three months.

“He never gives up and I cannot give up on a run just because it is a little hard.

“It does not mean I should not keep pushing on.”

Kayleigh Jamieson-Tait ran the London Marathon in aid of Edinburgh Children's Hospital Charity, who have supported her son Jack

Kayleigh, who is a support worker at Hilton Lodge in Haddington, is no stranger to running challenges or collecting money for the good cause, which offers support to seriously ill children from the moment they arrive at Edinburgh’s Royal Hospital for Children and Young People.

She has previously taken part in various events at the Edinburgh Marathon Festival and will again be in the Capital later this month to complete the event’s 5k.

However, this was her first time taking on the London Marathon.

The 34-year-old said: “It was out of this world.

“Nothing will ever compare to the London Marathon.

“It was always special but it is even more special now.

“I went down there and I wanted to enjoy it. I usually go wanting a personal best but this time my personal best was just to enjoy it.

“There was a girl from the charity ran it last year or the year before and she said she could run it again and take in different surroundings – you cannot take it all in.

“You are never, ever, ever alone. You have got crowds, you have got competitors and they are everywhere.

Tower Bridge is among the iconic sights on the London Marathon route. Image: Copyright Philip Halling and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

“In the Edinburgh Marathon, there are stretches where you are by yourself and there is no crowd and maybe in the mix of a couple of other people, but in London there is not a gap throughout it.”

Kayleigh, who was cheered on by her husband Gary, has raised thousands of pounds for Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity after 13-year-old Jack was diagnosed with asthma when he was just three years old.

Since then, staff at the hospital and the charity have been like “a family” to the Macmerry family-of-four.

Across the UK, more than 5.4 million people have asthma, which affects the airways that carry air in and out of the lungs.

One in 12 adults and one in every 11 children have asthma.

Through the London Marathon, Kayleigh, who crossed the finish line at Buckingham Palace in five hours, has raised more than £1,200 for the good cause.

She took to the start line in the charity’s red t-shirt with her name across the front.

And she told the Courier how the thousands cheering on the runners also helped her complete the 26.2-mile course.

Kayleigh, who is also mum to 17-year-old Kayla, said: “You have got random people shouting your name.

“Everybody comes together for the London Marathon.”

To support Kayleigh and the Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity, go to justgiving.com/page/kayleigh-jamieson-tait-1704445059595