Son going the extra mile to support Ardgowan Hospice after mum's tragic passing

A DEDICATED son is going the extra mile for the charity which helped his family through the tragic loss of his mother by running a half marathon through Inverclyde.

Local gas engineer Liam Martin is today running the length and breadth of the district to raise cash for Ardgowan Hospice.

The 37-year-old chose the charity because of the ‘world class’ support it gave his mum Mary Martin, who passed away late last year after a year-long battle with stomach cancer.

His incredible effort is already set to bring in £4,000 for the worthy cause, but he hopes locals can help him boost that total even further.

He told the Tele: “You can never raise enough money to repay the folk that work at the hospice for what they do for everyone’s family.

“My mum didn’t come into the hospice, but she was cared for at home. The staff here all rallied together for her and made sure things were as comfortable as possible.

“The care she got was second to none, they’re also caring for my good friend Danny Knox now as well.

“I’m going to start at Port Glasgow Tesco and then run right down the main road to the container terminal before coming up past the hospice and over to Branchton.

“I’ll then go down the IBM road to Inverkip and then go right across the scenic route along Gourock to the Battery Park and finish there.

“My family and friends will be waiting for me with purple balloons to let off.

“It will be a really special moment, I think especially for my dad.”

Liam said his mum’s diagnosis came as a shock to him at first, but with the help of the hospice he was able to make his mother’s last months as comfortable as possible.

He added: “It was tough at the end to see her the way she was, but for me personally I feel she’s in a better place now and it wasn’t nice seeing her go through the pain she was in.

“I don’t know how we would cope as a family without Ardgowan Hospice, even now they still keep phoning my dad to make sure he’s alright.

“I couldn’t speak higher about the hospice, they’re world class.

“It was a hell of a shock for us finding out she was ill, it didn’t really sink in for months.

“My mum was a district nurse, a home help, she always helped care for people who were ill and I think she kind of knew what was coming.

“She was kind woman and she’d always go above and beyond to make sure we were all comfortable.

“She fought tooth and nail to the very end, she went proud.

“I know she’ll be up there looking out on me when I’m running, it’ll be emotional but I hope everyone can take a wee bit out of it and it can help make them stronger.”

Those wishing to donate to Liam’s fundraiser can do so at https://shorturl.at/gRWY1