Marathon man thanks medics for daughter’s gift of life

Jun 12 2008 by Lesley Brown, Hamilton Advertiser

A HAMILTON man who last month ran the Edinburgh Marathon raised over £1600 for Yorkhill Hospital.

Alan French, of Fairhill, had set a fund-raising target of £500, but said the generosity of friends, family and colleagues had helped his total soar.

The final sponsorship figure came to £1606, which the 26-year-old presented to staff at Yorkhill’s Schiehallion ward this week.

Alan decided to help the ward after his two-year-old daughter, Elissa, was rushed to Yorkhill with severe anaemia in December. Alan and wife Angela wanted to give something back and to thank nursing and medical staff of the Schiehallion ward, which deals with blood disorders.

Elissa, who attends Cadzow Nursery, was admitted to Yorkhill 11 days before Christmas and was kept in for a week.

Alan said: “It was an agonising and stressful time watching her go through so many tests and receiving a blood transfusion.

“Her bone marrow test was also an anxious time as she had to have a general anaesthetic, which put her to sleep, but we knew she was in the best place.

“Thankfully since leaving Yorkhill and attending for routine check-ups, Elissa has had no further problems and is back to her usual self.”

Alan, a structural technician, completed the 26.4 mile run on May 25 in just four hours and 20 minutes.

He started training for the event in January, which he admitted was hard work initially. He said: “I wasn't much of runner and was really unfit to start with but the marathon itself was actually easier than the training for it.

“I really enjoyed the experience and would definitely do it again.”

Alan wishes to thank everyone for their support and generosity, especially those from Glaisnock Valley Bowling Club, who donated the proceeds of their annual charity night to Alan’s marathon fundraiser.