Keith man takes on marathon quest in memory of baby son
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A KEITH man is in the midst of a herculean challenge in memory of his first child.
Ian Watt is undertaking a year-long bid to run the equivalent of 46 marathons to raise money for the stillbirth and neonatal death charity SANDS.
The charity was there for him and his wife Michelle when they lost their first child in early 2014.
Ian, who was born in Keith and raised in Fife Keith, said: "In Christmas 2013 everything was normal, we had a healthy 20 week scan and were excitedly looking forward to the arrival of our first child in April 2014.
"Our world was then turned upside down when my wife developed severe pre-eclampsia.
"On January 17 our beautiful son, Callum Watt, was born sleeping. As he was only 26 weeks he wasn't strong enough to survive.
"Suddenly 2014 went from being potentially one of the best of our lives to the most heartbreaking and horrible."
The couple, who now live in Glasgow, were helped through the darkest of times thanks to family and friends and the support of SANDS.
Ian said: "When this happens to you it changes you forever, you never accept what happened you just learn to cope with it but you think about them every single day.
"You have to become stronger. We have now been blessed with two beautiful little girls – Florence (4) and Poppy (nearly 2) – however many people aren't as lucky."
The couple have since undertaken a number of fundraising efforts in honour of Callum for the charity, bringing in more than £20,000 to date.
And Ian has now embarked on his most ambitious challenge.
He said: "I am going to turn 40 in December and I decided to set myself the challenge of running the equivalent distance of 40 marathons in my 40th year – aptly named #Watt40for40.
"However I've decided I'm not going to settle for that. Our son Callum would have been six this coming January, so I'm going to do six for six for him too."
In total, that's 1205.2 miles to cover before his 40th birthday on December 19.
Miles have been ticked off in Glasgow as well as on visits home to Keith and on holidays to England, Spain and Wales.
Ian said reaching the finishing line will be his small way of giving something back to the charity which helped so much.
SANDS supports anyone affected by the death of a baby and information is available on the charity's website – www.sands.org.uk – where there is also links to local support groups in the Moray and Banffshire areas.
Ian said: "I can't begin to thank family and friends who have been there for us through some dark times in life and especially SANDS who provide amazing support for people up and down the country."
You can visit Ian's fundraising page – www.justgiving.com/watt40for40 – to back his marathon effort.
