Former runner takes part in Great Scottish Run

Monday, 9 July 2012

After becoming very unwell former runner Frances Hillan-Little could be forgiven for hanging up her running shoes altogether. Instead she’s back on the treadmill preparing to take on the Great Scottish Run for Cancer Support Scotland- and she wants to encourage others to do the same.

From a young age Frances who lives in Coalburn won a number of national and international titles at middle distance and cross country. She even enjoyed international selection and represented Scotland on numerous occasions. At just 16 she was selected for the Scottish ‘B’ squad for the 1986 Commonwealth Games, a fantastic achievement for someone of that age. It was at this point that Liz McColgan and South Africa’s Zola Budd were on the scene- heroes of Frances- who would personally help spur her on later in life. 

When she was 19 Frances took the difficult decision to retire from professional participation. But she didn’t abandon her sport altogether and kept running on and off until she was 40. It was then that she became very unwell, which put her running on the backburner.

Now at 43 Frances plans to get her trainers back on and run the half-marathon in the Great Scottish Run on 2^nd September- in aid of Cancer Support Scotland- and she wants to encourage others to do the same.

On getting back to running in the wake of her illness Frances said: “This is hell but I drag myself onto the treadmill when I can and am determined no matter what hell I feel I will turn up and do one of the runs in the Great Scottish Run”.

She certainly isn’t alone as she prepares for this; she’s got support and inspiration from some famous running friends. “Liz McColgan and Zola Budd are a great inspiration- Zola chats to me when she can on Facebook and also wrote to me with a letter of hope and prayer. She says ‘if you do not have hope you have nothing’”.

On the other side of the coin Frances has lost four family members to cancer, a further two have survived the disease and one is currently being treated for cancer. It is due to this that she has decided to run for Cancer Support Scotland. She said: “This charity was an easy choice for me to raise money for as it does such a great job and needs everyone who believes in ‘hope’ to pick up their running shoes and run/walk this event. Do what you can because if I can attempt this anyone can”.

Cancer Support Scotland is calling on more people to join Frances and the rest of Team Cancer Support Scotland on 2^nd September. With a choice between the 10K and half-marathon there is sure to be a distance that suits. With over eight weeks go there is still lots of time to train for Scotland’s largest mass participation sporting event.

For more information on fundraising and how to sign up please contact us using our Freephone number on 0800 652 4531 or email [email protected].