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Journalist to run for charity in memory of athlete whose death she covered

A weekly newspaper journalist is set to complete a charity challenge in memory of a young woman whose death she covered.

Hamilton Advertiser reporter Kirsten McStay is in training for the HamilTEN 10k race in September.

Kirsten will be running in memory of 22-year-old Eilidh McHugh, who died in March last year after a short battle with cancer.

After initially covering the tragedy, Kirsten has since also reported on the fundraising efforts of Eilidh’s family and friends.

Hamilton Advertiser reporter Kirsten McStay, pictured left, in training for the race in memory of Eilidh McHugh, pictured right

Hamilton Advertiser reporter Kirsten McStay, pictured left, in training for the race in memory of Eilidh McHugh, pictured right

Ahead of the race in September, she has so far raised more than £360 towards a £134,000 fund set up in Eilidh’s memory for the Glasgow-based Beatson Cancer Charity.

In a piece for the Advertiser, Kirsten wrote: “As many of our readers will know, over the last year I have written a number of stories about a girl called Eilidh McHugh. Eilidh was roughly the same age as me and sadly passed away after a short battle with a rare and aggressive form of cancer.

“We were very similar in the sense that we loved spending time with our friends, going on holiday to Ibiza and had both graduated from university the previous year. I met Eilidh’s mum and dad Elaine and Michael the day before her funeral.

“They told me lots of things about Eilidh and all of the wonderful things she had achieved in her 22 years. Ever since then her family and friends have been on a fundraising mission to raise money for Eilidh’s Beatson fund. And they have raised over £134,000 in her memory, which is absolutely fantastic.”

Eilidh was herself a keen athlete who competed with a number of running clubs and also represented South Lanarkshire.

Kirsten added: “I felt that taking part in this race was such a fitting tribute to her and I would just really love to give something back to her family for allowing me to write about their daughter and tell her story.”

To donate to Kirsten’s cause, click here.