EXCLUSIVE: Scots woman aims to be first female to run length of UK
Caitlin Andrew, from Clydebank, is taking on the challenge in memory of her friend Tyla-Neve who died from Epilepsy last year
Last updated 22 hours ago
A woman from West Dunbartonshire is setting her sights on becoming the first Scottish female to run the length of the UK - all 827 miles of it.
Clydebank's Caitlin Andrew is taking on the challenge in memory of her friend who died suddenly last year from epilepsy.
Tyla-Neve was just 19 when the condition took her peacefully in her sleep.
Don't suffer in silence
Caitlin's using Purple Day to raise awareness around a condition that affects around 58,000 Scots every year.
She has this advice for anyone suffering: "Get up, get out, talk to someone.
"Go to the epilepsy charity over in Govan; go and speak to them.
"Anybody. A neighbour. Go and speak to them.
"That one little step outside the door could change your day."
A personal trainer by day, Caitlin will set off from Land's End on 1st June hoping to be in John o' Groats 35 days later.
That's roughly a marathon a day.
She will pass through 36 towns, cities and villages along the way but it's the home crowd she is most looking forward to seeing.
Excitedly, she said: "On day 23, I'll be running from Kilmarnock to Glasgow and I'll be stopping outside the Hydro where hopefully there will be a good crowd waiting for us."
Failing to prepare is preparing to fail
To prepare her body for the gruelling distances, Caitlin is running six times a week covering hundreds of kilometres.
On the days she doesn't feel like training, she just has to thing of Tyla-Neve.
And to help her keep putting one foot in front of the other, Caitlin is also raising money for Epilepsy Scotland.
Speaking to us this Purple Day she said: "Training's been hard, I won't lie.
"The longer runs started coming in and I was thinking how gruelling this is going to be.
"One of my other friends, Demi, she told me to screw my head on."
Follow Caitlin's journey
The Hits Radio family across the UK will be supporting Caitlin all the way so listen out for updates from 1st June.
You can donate here.
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