The family of a Scots woman with terminal cancer have been touched by a kind-hearted gesture from ScotRail.
Helen Crawford, 39, was told she had incurable secondary breast cancer in December 2021 - the third time she has been diagnosed with the disease.
Sister Emma Smith and parents Lorraine and Kenny have been frequently travelling from their home in Girvan to Lincolnshire where RAF nurse Helen lives since her diagnosis.
The family have been forking out as much as £145 per return journey to see Helen, and Emma estimates she has spent over £600 on travel for herself in a matter of months.
ScotRail heard of the family's plight and stepped in to offer them free travel between Girvan and Edinburgh for three months so they can save cash on the first leg of their journey.
Helen told the Record: "The kindness has been overwhelming.
"This takes a little bit of the pressure off and helps overcome the difficulty the distance between us presents."
Emma added: "One of Helen's friends who is helping us with fundraising for a clinical trial put a general message on Facebook asking if anyone worked with any of the rail companies.
"It just so happened that someone else from Girvan messaged her to say he did and to leave it with him.
"I didn't know anything about it until she messaged me saying ScotRail might be in touch and they might offer free tickets.
"I would never have approached ScotRail as I would have never thought it was something they could do."
The family have at least one person with Helen at all times so she has support on hand so Emma often travels at different times to her parents.
Although overwhelmed at the kind gesture, they still still need to fork out over £100 to pay for the LNER train from Edinburgh to Grantham.
Emma said: "It is as fantastic gesture and it certainly takes a bit of pressure off.
"It just shows what people are trying to do and the kindness that is out there.
"If LNER could also help that would be great."
James Ledgerwood, ScotRail Head of Economic Development and Communities, said: “The railway is more than just running trains; we work closely with the communities we serve and always look at how we can provide them with our support.
“Providing Emma with ScotRail tickets is a small gesture which we hope will help her family during this difficult time.”
A spokesperson for LNER welcomed the family to get in touch.
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