Two Wick ambulance colleagues will take on their first marathon this weekend to raise money for the charity which supported one of their families through a frightening childhood tumour diagnosis.
Gavin Manson and Graeme Miller will run the Baxters Loch Ness Marathon on Sunday 27 September for The Archie Foundation, with almost £2,000 already raised.
Gavin, an emergency responder with the Scottish Ambulance Service, knows personally just how important the charity can become when a family suddenly finds itself facing the unimaginable.
His son Kyle, now 13, became unwell and was diagnosed with a tumour in February 2025 when he was just 12 years old.
Kyle underwent two operations and spent around 10 days at Aberdeen Children’s Hospital across several admissions.
During those difficult days, The Archie Foundation supported the family with accommodation and practical help which allowed them to remain close to Kyle while he received treatment.
Gavin said:
“When my son Kyle was 12 years old, he became unwell and was diagnosed with a tumour.
“During a very difficult period, Kyle underwent two operations and spent around 10 days in total at Aberdeen Children’s Hospital across several admissions.
“During what was one of the most stressful and frightening times of our lives, The Archie Foundation was there for us.
“They helped with accommodation and support, allowing us to stay close to Kyle when he needed us most.
“That support may seem simple on the surface, but when your child is unwell, it makes an enormous difference emotionally, practically and mentally.
“Thankfully, Kyle has now made a full recovery, something we are incredibly grateful for every single day.”
Now Gavin wants to give something back to the charity which was there when his family needed it most.
He will not be facing the 26.2 miles alone, with fellow Wick Ambulance Station Technician Graeme Miller joining him on the start line.
Neither man has run a marathon before, and Graeme’s involvement came about in wonderfully straightforward fashion after Gavin initially asked for some help with his training.
Graeme said:
“Gavin asked me to help with his training, so I thought that if I was training for a marathon, I might as well enter it too.”
That decision has turned a personal challenge into a shared effort from two colleagues whose everyday working lives are already built around helping other people.
The pair have now raised almost £2,000 for The Archie Foundation before they have even reached the start line.
On Sunday, the miles around Loch Ness will provide a considerable test for both men, but Gavin will be running with a very personal reason to keep putting one foot in front of the other.
Kyle is home, he has made a full recovery, and his dad now has 26.2 miles in which to say thank you to the people who helped their family through some of its hardest days.
You can support The Wick Marathon Men’s charity by clicking here
