Determined great-gran raises more than £1000 for charity by doing 5k

Jul 24 2012 by Alison Rennie, Paisley Daily Express

A DETERMINED great-gran has completed her second 5k fundraising race – and raised more than £1,000 for charity.

Lucy Brandon, 74, took part in the Cancer Research UK Race for Life last month in memory of her best friend Brenda McAllister.

It’s the second year the pensioner has taken part in the popular women-only race and she’s delighted to have raised so much money.

Lucy said: “I’m a year older and I thought I could do it again – so I did.

“I’ve got a lot of good family and friends who’ve sponsored me and the staff and customers at the Swan Inn have given me a lot of money as well.

“My son is a long-distance lorry driver and he’s taken in a sheet to his work.

“I’ve got a lot of thanking to do. Everyone really encouraged me and kept me going.”

Renfrew woman Lucy took part in the race at Glasgow Green on June 3 and turned 74 just a month later on July 4.

She was supported in her fundraising efforts by her two children, four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren as well as her sister Betty O’Donnell and her family, who live in Sydney, Australia.

She walked the race on her own and had friends and family at the finish line who cheered her on.

“I felt great when I crossed the finish line,” she said. “I felt I’d achieved something.

“I’m doing this in Brenda’s memory. I thought it would be good to do it for her.

“I told the people in the pub that I’d try to finish it but if I didn’t manage it then I’d give them their money back but they said no, I was still to give it to charity. Everybody knows someone with cancer.”

Lucy’s best pal Brenda sadly passed away in 2009 after a battle with cancer. Lucy completed the 5k last year and raised a fantastic £900 and is delighted to have done even better this year with a final total of £1060.

Her niece Lynda McEwan in Sydney e-mailed the Paisley Daily Express to say: “I’m really proud of my aunt. She is committed to this cause as she lost her best pal Brenda to cancer a couple of years ago.

“Her and Brenda were inseparable and Lucy was left devastated by her untimely death. Lucy is just a typical wee wifie. She is as daft as a brush and she and Brenda were always getting into funny scrapes especially when they went on holiday.

“She is such a great inspiration to the rest of us to get off our backsides and do our bit.”

Lucy thanked the Swan Inn management, staff and customers and all her “dear family and friends” who’ve supported her fundraising.