Fundraising heroes take on AJ Bell Great Scottish Run 2026
Thousands of runners took on the iconic AJ Bell Great Scottish Run last week, including some of our very own fundraising heroes. Each raced for their own special reason, raising vital funds for Crosshouse Children’s Fund and Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity.
Here are some of their stories:
Emma
At a routine scan in February, Emma received the devastating news that her baby no longer had a heartbeat. Emma gave birth to her little girl, Lila, two days later.
During this unimaginably difficult time, the team at Crosshouse Hospital’s Ayrshire Maternity Unit provided Emma and her family with compassionate care and support. To say thank you for the support she received during a difficult time, she took on the Half Marathon for Crosshouse Children’s Fund.
She shares:
“Running has become a form of therapy for me, and it gives me space to process everything. It has given me a sense of purpose, and I’ve come to enjoy the sport.
“The Half Marathon is a huge challenge, but that’s part of why I wanted to do it. I want to be able to cross the finish line knowing I completed something difficult in Lila’s memory, and through fundraising, her life has helped make a difference to other families.”
Lucy & Charlotte
15-year-old Bryce lives in Stornoway with a cardiac condition called Catecholaminergic Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia and has had several visits to both Yorkhill and the Royal Hospital for Children since the age of 3.
Over the years, Bryce and his family have accessed several charity-funded services, including the Play Team, our Gaming Volunteers, as well as staying at Crossbasket House.
Now, his big sisters Lucy and Charlotte have given back in a big way by completing the Great Scottish Run. Lucy shares:
“The reason we decided to take on the Great Scottish Run half marathon was to give something back to the charity for all the help it has given us as a family.
“Glasgow Children's Hospital Charity has helped massively over the years, from the Play Team helping to break up the day to the entertainers and hospital gamers.
“The staff at Crossbasket House were amazing, a friendly face at the desk regardless of the time of day. Being so far from home but having somewhere to sleep just metres from the children’s hospital is so convenient. Having the facilities to cook and do laundry is also great. All your needs are thought of.”
Scott
In 2024, Scott and Helen welcomed their son Teddy in Glasgow after he was born 10 weeks early. Due to a difficult birth, both Teddy and mum Helen received treatment at the Princess Royal Maternity hospital as well as support from Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity which made his difficult start to life that little bit brighter and easier.
To give back and say thank you for the vital support they received, Scott has raised money for the Princess Royal Maternity’s Neonatal Fund through Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity.
Scott says:
“The work Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity do is so important and has such a lasting impact on families in what can be the most difficult time of their lives.
“Teddy being born at 30 weeks was a surprise in both the best and scariest of ways. Seeing him so small, so fragile and yet so strong will live with me forever. I was in love as soon as I saw him. The next six weeks were a bit of a rollercoaster with Teddy's Mum having a very difficult time after birth.
“Raising money for Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity is just a small way of showing my appreciation for all they have done for me and my family. I will endeavour to give back what I can to the charity and the staff that saved my son’s life in whatever ways that I can.”
Russell
Russell took on the Half Marathon at the weekend - this time without his trusty companion Sparky with whom he cycled Stride the Clyde with last year to fundraise for Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity.
He smashed his £500 fundraising target in a few days, raising over £840 in total.
Russell shares:
“I was planning on doing another charity event this year after doing Stride the Clyde last year. When my friend asked if I wanted to join him at the Great Scottish Run, I thought I’m in Glasgow, I can run and I can tie it in with fundraising for the charity again because I wanted to do something this year anyway.
“It's important because it provides for families who have kids in hospital, or families who stay in Crossbasket House. Us doing this is supporting the whole thing from the bottom up. It takes a village to raise a kid, and I feel like it should be more normalised to do fundraising like this. It gives me self-fulfilment, and it helps other people out.
“It's important, because it takes everyone to bring up a new generation.”
Lauren
Lauren’s nine-month-old daughter, Lily, suffered a prolonged febrile seizure at home in November 2025. Lily was rushed to Glasgow Children’s Hospital, where she received medication to stop her seizure, followed by a thorough examination to check for any lasting effects. Lily remained in hospital with her parents for three days while she recovered.
Lauren completed the Half Marathon at the weekend to thank Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity for the care and support her family received.
Lauren shared:
“Glasgow Children's Hospital Charity's thoughtful touches made our hospital stay feel more comfortable and less clinical.
“From our first call with the paramedics to leaving the hospital, everyone treated us with exceptional kindness. Every person we encountered was supportive, caring and helpful, and we are deeply grateful for the prompt and meticulous care my daughter received.
“Having a pull-down bed beside Lily meant I could stay close to her, while the lullabies and white noise on the room’s iPad helped soothe her to sleep.
"As she recovered, we also made use of the ward's playroom and appreciated the charity-funded food pouches available on the ward.”
We are grateful to every runner who undertook the Great Scottish Run in 2026 on our behalf.