The mum of an Edinburgh woman who raised almost £20,000 for charity before she died of epilepsy last year is fundraising in her memory.
Zoe Smith, who died at the age of 36 in her Corstorphine home, was known around Scotland for her charity work and love for football.
She raised around £17,500 for a variety of organisations such as Erskine, Heart and Stroke Scotland, Cancer research, the Rangers Foundation and Cowdenbeath’s Club 135 amongst many others.
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Having contracted meningitis at the age of five, Zoe later developed epilepsy, and required brain surgery at the age of 27 after her condition worsened.
But her mother, Linda Smith, 60, who is raising funds for Epilepsy Scotland, said that Zoe’s medical issues did not stop her from living life to the fullest and continuously trying to help others.
Having grown up in Clermiston, she was said to have rebelled against doctors orders and complete sponsored swims in The English Channel and abseiled the Forth Rail Bridge.
Mum Linda, described her desire to keep her Rangers FC and Scotland daft daughter’s memory and efforts alive as extremely important to her and is therefore trying to raise £1,000 for the epilepsy charity.
She said: “As a young lassie she contracted meningitis at the age of five and the epilepsy stemmed from that.
“Nine years ago she went for brain surgery for her epilepsy as her condition got worse but she continued to suffer.
“But that never stopped her from living life to the fullest and ignoring doctors advice by doing things like abseiling and swimming with sharks.
“She was a football fanatic and loved Rangers, Cowdenbeath and the Scotland team. Everyone in the set ups of the teams knew her for her amazing ability to fundraise. She would attend as many events as she possibly could to show her support.
“Her friends told me that she would always get a tenner off everyone that passed her - she would not settle for anything else.
“She did so much to raise money for a host of charities from Erskine to the Rangers Foundation to Cancer Research amongst many more.
“Zoe swam Loch Lomond, the Forth, the Channel and even abseiled down the railway bridge - she was focused on charity work all the time.
“I did not realise how much she had done over the years but to hear and see and what she has raised I’m in disbelief at how she managed to do all this.
“I’ve set up a GoFundMe to keep her memory alive. She was quiet but very happy go lucky and was full of life.
“She got on with things and nothing stopped her at all. If you said no she would find a way to do it - even if doctors told her no - she would ignore them.
“It was a big loss for me. It is still hard to take it in, I am still expecting her to walk through her nana’s front door.
“Mothers and daughters have ups and downs but Zoe was always there for me and I was always there for her.
“We were more like sisters than mother and daughter.”
After Zoe passed away in August of last year, her ashes were spread at Ibrox, Central Park and at the Police Scotland facilities in Airdrie.
She was well loved by the Police Scotland Horses community and would often attend match days with treats to feed the horses - something she was thanked for in a tribute from the force.
After her death, they paid tribute to her on Twitter by saying: “We have heard very sad news that one of our biggest fans who we see at most football matches has passed away. Zoe always had a smile & a bag full of treats for our horses. Polscothorses send our heartfelt condolences to Zoe’s family & friend’s. We will miss you Zoe.”
Ex Rangers players Charlie Miller, Craig Moore, Marvin Andrews and Marco Negri paid tribute to late Rangers charity supporter Zoe Smith at a Legends charity game last summer.
The players, Oswald’s Bar owner - Brain Matthews - and the Rangers Charity Foundation also clapped alongside spectators at Ibrox during the first Old Firm clash of the season.
To support Linda in raising money for Epilepsy Scotland, follow the GoFundMe link here.
