On the 24th of May 2026, I’ll be running the Edinburgh Half Marathon to raise money for Strathcarron Hospice — a place that means more to my family than I can properly put into words.

My uncle, Des Harbison, spent the last few weeks of his life under the care of the incredible team at Strathcarron Hospice. The compassion, dignity and kindness they showed him in his final days was truly amazing. They made sure he was comfortable, respected and cared for every single day.

But they didn’t just care for my uncle — they cared for all of us.
In the last week of his life, they allowed my mum and dad to stay with him, and they supported them just as much as they supported Uncle Des. During one of the most painful times our family has ever faced, the staff at Strathcarron brought comfort, reassurance and warmth. They made an unimaginably difficult time a little more bearable.

Running this half marathon is my way of honouring my Uncle Des and saying thank you to the hospice for everything they did for him and for us.

Strathcarron Hospice provides outstanding care and support to so many families when they need it most, and they rely heavily on fundraising and donations to continue their work.

If you’re able to donate, no matter how small, it would mean the world to me — and it will help them continue giving other families the same compassion and dignity that meant so much to ours.

Thank you so much for your support. Every kilometre I run on the 24th of May will be for my Uncle Des and the amazing staff at Strathcarron hospice. Olivia Harbison