Galloway News reporter raises more than £2,000 in memory of dad with marathon charity challenge

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A Standard and Galloway News reporter has smashed his charity challenge. Stuart Gillespie tackled the Manchester Marathon just days after his 40th birthday.

And he was delighted to raise more than £2,300 for Paisley’s ACCORD Hospice, which looked after his dad Matthew during the final weeks of his life in 2022.

Stuart, who is originally from Bishopton near Paisley and now lives near Dumfries, said: “I’m blown away by how generous people have been. “I hadn’t done anything for charity before so had no idea how much to expect. “My best case scenario was £1,000, so to raise more than double that is incredible. “I’m really touched by how generous people have been – although I think it’s more to do with people’s affection for Dad rather than me! “He was an elder at Bishopton Parish Church and a member of Gleddoch Golf Club in Langbank for decades and everyone there was incredibly supportive. “Thanks also has to go to friends, family, work colleagues and everyone at Dumfries Running Club as well as random St Mirren fans and internet strangers.” Matthew – also known as Matt – was diagnosed with cancer of the oesophagus just before the first coronavirus lockdown in 2020.

Treatment had been deemed to be successful, however, in early 2022 he was told it was terminal. He spent the final month of his life in the ACCORD Hospice – which provides palliative and end of life care – before his death in September 2022.