A determined Aberdeenshire dance teacher led the charge against cancer at the Granite City’s Race for Life today – in memory of her mum who died from the disease.
Gillian Bitta was chosen to sound the horn and send around 2,200 Scots on the 5K and 10K courses at Beach Esplanade today to raise vital funds for Cancer Research UK.
It was an emotional day for Gillian, who stepped on stage to share with the crowd her heartbreak at losing her mum Elizabeth MacRae, aged 77, on October 31 last year after a battle with a brain tumour.
Gillian who crossed the finish line of the Race for Life 5K with her daughter, Aspen, 12, was supported by her partner Richard Bitta, 50, and her dad, Edward MacRae, 81.
Gillian, 55, of Stonehaven, said: “I miss absolutely everything about my mum.
“I know she’ll have been up there smiling down on us today.
“This year would have been my mum and dad’s diamond wedding anniversary and all of our family were looking forward so much to celebrating with this wonderful couple their special 60 years together.
“I feel so lucky to have had a mum who I spoke to every day. She lived just round the corner from me.
“This time last year Mum was still fit enough to run around the garden with her grandchildren.
“I feel so sad she’s no longer here but I’ll do anything I can to support research with the hope other families in the future don’t have to go through the heartache of losing a loved one.”
Gillian’s mum Elizabeth, who was a former captain of Stonehaven Golf Club, first became unwell with headaches last summer.
Doctors at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary organised a scan fearing she may have had a stroke.
It was a hammer blow when the results revealed four tumours in her brain.
More tests later showed the cancer had started as a melanoma skin cancer then spread to her brain.
Gillian said: “I was with Mum in the room when she was told about the brain tumours.
“Mum’s first thoughts were for her family. She was worried about my dad but that was the sort of person Mum was.
“She spent a lifetime putting her family before herself.
“She was diagnosed in July, and by the end of October she was gone. We all miss her so much and I feel proud to do Race for Life in Mum’s memory.”
Eve Ferguson, 36, of Westhill, who was running in memory of her auntie Sheena, and Lauren Anderson, 26, of Peterculter, running in memory of her granny Isobel, were first to cross the line in the 10K Race For Life Aberdeen, at 48 minutes 42 seconds.
Nathan Murray, aged 13, of Aberdeen was first home in the 5K event, completing the course in just 22 minutes and six seconds.