Katy Sutherland made a promise after her mum was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumour.
She told her mum Jackie she’d fundraise as much as she could to help scientists find a cure.
Jackie, of Conon Bridge, was just 49-years-old when she started suffering severe headaches and was given the devastating news.
“It was a massive shock,” Katy, 31, said. “She had been suffering with sore heads for a few months.
“The world as we knew it fell apart.”
‘Mum was doing so well’
The following week Jackie was admitted to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary where she underwent major surgery.
Surgeons removed as much of the tumour as they could during the five-hour procedure in 2013 to help her live longer.
She also had several rounds of chemotherapy and radiotherapy followed by a further operation in 2015.
“Mum was doing so well,” Katy said. “Everyone would comment on how well she looked when we were out shopping or for lunch.
“She loved hearing those words.”
Katy and her family were inspired by Jackie’s brave fight and her determination to stay positive.
Although they didn’t know it at the time, Jackie would be one of only around 3% of glioblastoma patients who live longer than three years after their diagnosis.
They were shocked to learn that brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer.
The promise…
At times, Katy struggled with the fact she could do very little to help her mother as she battled with the cancer.
“I’ve never felt so useless in my life,” she says. “I wish she needed a kidney or bone marrow and I could have potentially saved her, but things were much more complicated.”
After thinking of other ways she could help, she took part in a few fun runs to raise money for brain tumour research.
She then made a promise to her “beautiful” mum.
“For me I needed to do something; I needed to put my focus into doing some good,” Katy said.
“I promised her that I would do lots of fundraising and keep that momentum going.”
‘You can’t be sad for someone’s pain being taken away’
Jackie died peacefully in hospital with her family by her side on February 15, 2017.
Six months earlier she had been admitted to the ward in Dingwall after suffering a major stroke which left the left side of her body completely paralysed.
An MRI scan then revealed the tumour had come back but it was inoperable and by this time Jackie was too weak for treatment.
She spent her last six months at Ross Memorial Hospital and the “fantastic” staff let Jackie’s family spend every night with her so she was never alone.
“They made a really difficult situation for us so much easier,” Katy said.
“When my mum passed away it was obviously extremely hard but the way I saw it was that she wasn’t getting better.
“I always think you can’t be sad for somebody’s pain being taken away.
“We couldn’t just have her there for our benefit, she had no quality of life. But we do miss her every single day.”
Katy met scientists carrying out brain tumour research
Katy has worked hard to fulfil her promise and fundraising has become a way of coping with her grief.
She set a target of raising £60,000 in time for the day of her mother’s 60th birthday – and she has just smashed it two years early.
Local businesses helped out and family and friends took part in tea parties, race nights, the Aberdeen Kiltwalk and the Great Glencoe Challenge.
Their local hairdresser even jumped out of a plane in a charity skydive in America to raise money for her 40th birthday.
Katy was invited down to Leeds to meet scientists who will be using the money to carry out research into high-grade brain tumours.
It is important work, especially with new figures revealing that the number of people diagnosed with the condition has risen by 30% over the past two decades.
“With further research I hope one day it will prevent families in the future losing a loved one too soon to this horrendous debilitating disease,” Katy said.
What is she doing next?
Two more fundraising events are planned for this year. This week all proceeds from the tea tent at the Black Isle Show will be donated to the Jackie Sutherland Memorial Fund.
There will also be a Ladies Lunch held at Tulloch Castle Dingwall on November 26th.
Tickets cost £45 and can be bought by calling Tina on 01349 863601 or 07849814602.
Katy said she was grateful for everyone who has donated or helped her organise the fundraisers.
“Mum was quite well known in the area and there has been so much support from the community – it’s been amazing really.
“I just want to say a big thank you to every person who has helped.”
Evie Wragg, community fundraiser from The Brain Tumour Charity, said the money raised will help the charity find new treatments.
She said: “We’re so grateful to all of Jackie’s family and friends for raising such an incredible amount of money for The Brain Tumour Charity in her memory.
“Losing Jackie will have been extremely painful, and our hearts to go out to everyone that knew and loved Jackie.”
Conversation