A mum who founded a charity in memory of her beloved son will now take on one of her biggest challenges, scaling Mount Kilimanjaro.
Brave East Kilbride lad Lee Jamieson sadly lost a nine-month battle with leukaemia in August 2014, spending his 12th birthday in the children’s cancer ward at Yorkhill Hospital.
This saw mum Elizabeth Anne Holmes and Lee's dad, Stephen, set up the Live it for Lee charity foundation in his memory.
Since then, the former Murray Primary pupil’s family, friends and supporters have made it their mission to raise as much money as possible to fund leukaemia and lymphoma research to help find a cure. More than £255,000 had been raised in Lee's name
And now it is Kilimanjaro that faces Elizabeth Anne in less than three weeks - with cash raised going to Blood Cancer UK.
She leaves on June 16 with the epic feat ending on July 1.
She said: "I will take on one of the biggest Live it for Lee challenges to date. To the moon and back for this wee boy via Mount Kilimanjaro.
"Like every challenge there is a lot of hard work in the background before the event itself takes place - and as always I'm so incredibly grateful for the team of amazing people that I find in my path, helping me every step of the way.
"During this time I have been so lucky to get out walking with friends from EK Mountaineering Club, and The Murray Walkers, along with friends and family to help prepare for this eight-day climb of 5895m.
"I can’t quite believe the things I get myself into for this boy - purely because Lee and I had a pact that we had to say 'yes' to everything. So when I saw this advert, there was only one answer.
"Where most girls might choose a designer handbag or some other lovely little treat from a Black Friday Sale - in November 2018 I signed up to a half price Climb up Mount Kilimanjaro with Blood Cancer UK - and after being postponed due to Covid for the past two years, I am delighted it is now actually happening."
Elizabeth Anne has already completed a 300 mile cycle during lockdown 2020, virtually covering the distance from London to Paris by pedalling across the central belt raising £1300.
Back in 2018 she also took part in the epic London2Paris fundraiser – a whopping 500 kilometres over three-and-a-half days – raising nearly £13,000 for the cause.
And not content with the trials and tribulations of the cycle challenge, she also did a belated 50th birthday challenge to run 50 miles.
The mum went on: "I am so grateful to my wee boy, and to this incredible charity, and to all those around me who have helped or been a part of all these crazy things, that I could only have experienced because Lee is where he is now.
"And now, I get to go and climb this awesome mountain … one step at a time for as far as my body will allow. Most of all, I am so grateful to Lee - for showing me how to turn grief into life and this is, as always, for our darling boy."
Elizabeth Anne isn't the only one in the family who has been striding out.
Her mum, Anne, has already walked the equivalent of Kilimanjaro twice, up and down her stairs, during lockdown.
"She did it without using the stairlift that’s in place after her two broken hips - and she’ll be 80 in September," Elizabeth Anne added.
"She is just amazing and a true testament to the never ending support, strength and determination of a mother’s love. I have learned from the best."
To support intrepid Elizabeth Anne go to her fundraising page or the Live it for Lee Facebook page.
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