Caol dad makes it four in a row to honour son
A FORT WILLIAM dad will run the Loch Ness marathon in honour of his stillborn son to ‘ensure he didn’t die in vain’.
Life has dealt the toughest of blows to Michael McGuire after his first child was stillborn at 32 weeks and his wife, aged just 26, was diagnosed with cervical cancer.
The Caol dad has said running the Baxter’s Loch Ness Marathon has given him a positive focus to help others in memory of his son.
Determined Michael took up marathon running as special tribute to his son Kyle and as a result he has raised more than £7,000 for charities and causes close to the family’s heart.
Michael will be back running the Loch Ness marathon for a fourth time in September and wife Rachel – who is in remission after undergoing gruelling radiotherapy and chemotherapy – and the couple’s daughter Amelie, seven, will be there to cheer him on.
The couple say they expect to see a reminder of son Kyle in the skies above the Highland race location.
The 34-year- old said rainbows have taken on a symbolic meaning since he and Rachel lost their son almost eight years ago.
‘ When our only son was stillborn at 32 weeks, it was possibly the worst thing you could endure as a parent. I started marathon running to honour Kyle and ensure he didn’t die in vain,’ said Michael.
‘Rainbows have become massively symbolic to us and Kyle will always be known as our rainbow. When we lost Kyle, we travelled home to Fort William from Glasgow and rainbows lit our way and we always felt that was him looking out for us. Ever since they have followed us in many guises, including at the start and finish line of last year’s Loch Ness marathon.
‘There have been so many occasions when we’ve seen rainbows and we believe they are there to remind us, inspire us and keep us going.
‘Rachel has been brave beyond words.
‘It was a hammer blow when she was diagnosed with cancer and I felt totally helpless, but she has the courage of a lion and she has pulled through.
‘Running got me out of a hole and has helped to provide light at the end of the tunnel. Loch Ness will be my sixth marathon in the past five years so it has become a bit of an obsession to challenge myself and do something positive.
‘It has helped give me a purpose and I credit that with helping me become a better husband, father and friend.’
I’m looking forward to making it four in a row for my baby boy
Michael McGuire
By taking part in the challenging 26.2-mile race, Michael has helped vital funds for charities including the stillbirth and neonatal birth charity SANDS UK and Clic Sargent.
Michael is a volunteer with Simpsons Memory Box Appeal (SiMBA), a charity that provides support to parents who lose a child, and will be raising funds for this cause through his marathon effort.
Speaking to The Oban Times Michael said: ‘When Kyle died we didn’t get any support. We just got handed a leaflet and it was like see you later. But working with SiMBA is just so rewarding. Just to tell people we are here, our phones are on, our door is open - you’re not alone. We want to get people talking about something that has been a taboo subject for such a long time and not to be afraid.’
Michael, who was in the RAF for eight years, had never ran before losing his son, but now he can’t imagine life without it: ‘You catch the bug.
‘It’s so nice knowing when you cross the finish line you have raised money for something good.
‘It’s the people around me who are the special ones. I’m just a helper but I’m looking forward to making it four in a row for my baby boy to keep his memory alive, to make my wife and daughter proud and hope that others never hurt like we did.
‘Life is good. We have had our ups and down but we are really turning a corner.’