Laura Ross got last weekend's Race For Life Edinburgh underway, having overcome breast cancer
A mum who penned an emotional poem to explain her cancer diagnosis to her daughter was the guest of honour at a fundraising event.
Inspirational cancer survivor Laura Ross and her 10-year-old daughter Sally led the charge at Cancer Research UK's Race For Life in Edinburgh at the weekend when they sounded an airhorn to set 2000 women on their way.
The pair were VIP guests at the event at Holyrood Park in Edinburgh, where runners were undertaking 5K and 10K events, raising vital funds in the fight against cancer.
Across Scotland this weekend, almost 5,000 women took part in Race For Life events in Kirkcaldy, Aberdeen and Edinburgh.
In the capital, it was a special day for Laura who has fought her way back to fitness since being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2016. Those gathered in support of Race For Life also heard the mum read one of the funny poems she wrote for her daughter.
Laura took inspiration from Sally's favourite Disney film Zootropolis when she was trying to work out how best to tell her daughter that she had breast cancer. The poem explains that although Laura had a cancerous tumour, it was slow moving, just like the Zootropolis character Flash, a sloth.
The 46-year-old bank worker from Bathgate said: "It's been an amazing experience for us to be here as VIP guests. It was very fitting that Sally sounded the airhorn too as it's not just the person with cancer who has to go through it - it's their whole family.
“I'm so proud of Sally and how she has dealt with everything. She will always be my VIP but Race For Life Edinburgh has been an amazing opportunity for her to see just how special she is. The outlook for people with cancer is much more positive compared to 40 years ago and that's down to earlier diagnosis and treatments. For that, as a cancer survivor, I'm very grateful.”
For more information on events and to take part visit the Race for Life website.
Flash, a poem by Laura Ross
Flash is a tumour who's grown in my breast
He's why I'm so tired despite plenty rest
I hear you all saying 'why give it a name'?
When your child's only eight, it helps to explain
That mummy has cancer, but this one grows slow
And he's not gonna make it - not now that we know
He's hiding in there, not giving a hoot
But now - his tea's oot! He's getting the boot!
You must see the positives, not doom and gloom
And acknowledge wee fun things, there's plenty of room
Like, these last few weeks, who would've known?
The number of strangers my boobs I have shown!
And then MRI - oh my, what a fangle
You've to lie on the table and just let them dangle!
And during the op they'll put dye into me
Then, for days after that I'll be doing blue pee!
The outlook is good and we're all upbeat
And the surgeon's been told - he better be neat!
So on we go with a skip and a hop
It will soon be out of me - bring on the op!
