Raising money for pal Michele

An adapted Race For Life effort by gym members in Strathaven has raised over £5000 for charity.

And not only was the group effort the perfect tonic to battle the lockdown blues, but it was the ideal way to remember their lost friend.

Spearheaded by Eclipse Fitness owner Naomi Watt, the fun ‘hoopathon’ was completed by friends and family of Michele Osborne (pictured) who lost her battle to cancer in December.

Naomi told us: “The hoopathon started at 7am and we finished together 7pm as a class.

“This is my Friday Powerhoop class in Strathaven, and hoopers hooped a one hour time slot at home with a Skype group going to pass the baton onto the next person.

“We have raised over £5000 already and still have donations coming in in memory for our fellow and loved hooper, Michele. This year meant even more to us to do it in her memory.

“Michele never let anything stop her so just because the Glasgow Race for Life 5km was cancelled it hasn’t stopped me and my hoopers from doing an event to raise money for Cancer Research.

“It’s been a fun challenge making the best of the pandemic situation and even though we miss Michele – we are proud to do it in her memory and raise the incredible amount we have.”

We told you in December how, having beaten breast cancer once before, Michele was struck down with secondary lung cancer.

She fought valiantly throughout, continuing to run and refusing to let her illness dictate what she wanted to do until her passing in December.

She was even named Strathaven Striders’ runner of the year.

Last weekend would have been the Race For Life event in Glasgow that gym members attend annually, hooping round the city in aid of Cancer Research.

But, having been cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Naomi arranged the 12 hour virtual hoopathon relay for the Sunday.

And Michele’s husband, Jeremy, said he was overwhelmed at the efforts of her fellow keep-fitters.

He said: “Michele and I would have celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary on May 7 this year and there hasn’t been a day go by when I haven’t missed her.

“Missed her encouragement, support, empathy to help me do the things I want to or have to do. In everything Michele was involved in she always put in significantly more effort than the benefit she took out of it and this had an effect on everyone who came across her.

“I think Naomi set a target of £1200 for the hoopathon so she absolutely smashed that. For the last five years the Powerhoopers went round the Glasgow course, Michele was there – front and centre; probably embarrassing our daughters who were also there.

“This year would be the first year Michele wasn’t there and the event was cancelled, so it was no surprise the group decided to arrange their own event, nor that they would raise money for Cancer Research as normal.

“I was, though, very touched they would choose to commemorate Michele with the event and astounded at the outpouring of support from the local community and, indeed from places right around the globe where there are people who have met Michele.

“To raise so much money from such a small event in Michele’s name is humbling. Six months after her death and she still manages to inspire and motivate many many people.”