Good luck to team CHAS at the Edinburgh Marathon Festival!

No matter what distance you are taking on we wish you the best of luck and want to say a huge thank you for supporting CHAS in such an incredible way. When the going gets tough, please just think of how your efforts will bring lots of smiles and create special memories for hundreds of families in Scotland.

One runner who will be proudly sporting his CHAS vest on Sunday is Russell Whyte, Director, Commercial Banking at Royal Bank of Scotland, who is taking on the challenge in memory of his friend's son, Jack.

Russell, who is based in Aberdeenshire, said "Jack was diagnosed with an extremely rare life-shortening metabolic condition at just four months old. CHAS were a massive source of support for my friends Bruce and Nicola through Jack's short life and also after his death. All of our group of friends have obviously been deeply moved by what they've gone through. Given they are now helping to fundraise for CHAS, I wanted to do my bit and I thought running 26 miles for the charity was a good way to do it!"

Russell has raised over £2,000 so far and this generous gift will make a huge difference to families all across Scotland, like Bruce and Nicola's, who face the unthinkable reality that their child may die before they do.

Speaking of their time at Rachel House, Jack's dad, Bruce Edmond, said "Jack, Nicola and I were only under the care of CHAS for around 18 months but it feels like we received a decade's worth of care, experiences and love. We are still receiving support from CHAS and value the association that we have with this charity.

"In the early days of our time at Rachel House I would sit and think "what are we doing here". Jack was doing so well. Jack's care seemed far less than many of the children that were staying there. Was there children out there that needed to be there more than Jack? Now having lost Jack I know why we were there. That was to make memories, memories that will live with us forever."

Each week in Scotland three children die because they have a life-shortening condition, but currently CHAS are only able to reach one of those families to provide the love, care and support they need. We're on a mission to reach every family who need us and it's thanks to our runners this weekend, that will help us to achieve this ambition. Thank you and good luck!