A GLASGOW STUDENT has travelled to the original home of marathons this weekend to run 26 miles for her baby cousin, Kate, who died suddenly in Glasgow in 2002.

Charlotte Dean, who is 24 and from Newlands, made the journey to Athens to run the Athens Authentic Marathon this Sunday after smashing her initial target of £250 and amassing an incredible £1800 in funds for the organisation that provided vital support to Kate and her family.

“Kate would have been 20 next Sunday, so to be able to do this for her feels incredible” Charlotte told The Evening Times.

Although her family were from Glasgow, Kate was born in Portland and it was on a trip back home to visit relatives where tragedy struck.

“Kate was only 15 months when she died in Glasgow. She was born with Down Syndrome and my aunty brought her home to Glasgow to visit the family, because at that point she was doing really well.

Kate was buried in the city while her family returned to Portland.

“None of us could have been prepared for her to pass away when she was here" said Charlotte. "They say that its people that make a place, and I think of her whenever I think about how lucky I am to still be here, and having every experience that I have.

"Kate's death was such a shock, a big blow to the family, and I don’t think we’ve ever forgotten it."

This summer Charlotte spent time in Greece, where the first ever marathon was registered.

It was here that she came up with the idea to run a marathon for Kate, and donate the funds raised to the Early Interventions Programme that provided vital support to Kate and her family around the time of her death.

“It’s my first marathon - funny how everyone says that it’s their first because they know after it they’ll be hooked to do another” laughs Charlotte.

“I feel incredibly lucky for my body's capabilities over the last few months of training.

"I've only been training for the last two months, so my body could have probably been doing with a bit more time, but I'm totally set on completing the marathon and I think Kate will be with me every step of the way".

Raising such a large amount of money for the Early Interventions Programme has also been a massive achievement for Charlotte, who has received donations from friends, relatives and local businesses alike. For her, though, the marathon on Sunday is about remembering the memory of Kate and the people who helped her.

"I think what is so important to remember is that we are all humans no matter what differences we have. That's what I'm going to celebrate on Sunday."