Hilary's Story

5th March 2020 12:00

5th March 2020

 

Beatson West Of Scotland Cancer Centre Consultant, Dr Hilary Glen, embarked on a truly amazing fundraising challenge for Beatson Cancer Charity to celebrate the charity's 5th anniversary in 2019. Hilary explains in her own words why she is fundraised and continues to show her commitment The Beatson.

In honour of Beatson Cancer Charity celebrating its fifth anniversary (2019), I committed to five challenges in the year to fundraise for the charity.

  • Etape Caledonia
  • The Edinburgh Marathon
  • Lochore Meadows open water triathlon
  • Stornoway triathlon
  • Iron Man

I am a consultant Medical Oncologist at The Beatson and I completed a ‘year of running’ for charity in 2014 - 2015. It had started out as me just wanting to get fitter, but then spiraled into something bigger.

It was also the year Beatson Cancer Charity launched, and my fundraising was split between them and Cancer Research UK. So, it was quite nice to do these five challenges for the charity when they’re celebrating their fifth anniversary.

With these challenges, I think half the battle was getting to the start line, let alone the finish and my husband Paul, who is also doing Iron Man, and I have been doing quite a lot of training since last October to prepare.

Our kids do triathlons too, so it was nice as they’re at an age where it gets a bit more difficult to spend time together. But we all enjoy this.

Whilst I’m based at The Beatson, I also cover Ayrshire and Arran, where I treat patients with prostate and bladder cancer. My patients always ask what I’m up to and what challenge is next - they’re very supportive. It’s nice to be able to take the charity out there with me as well and tell people about the work it does.

I think it’s important to show your support in whatever way you can. I’ve seen first-hand the support the charity provides to its NHS partners and the thousands of patients and families who walk through the doors of The Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre each year.

So however big or small, you are making a difference and helping the charity to continue supporting more people affected by cancer in the west of Scotland.

 

To find out more how you can get involved in fundraising challenges, click here.

Please donate today to support even more patients and their families facing cancer.