A GLASGOW woman who suffered the loss of her 22-year-old son in a drowning accident overseas and then battled cancer is in the running to be named the city’s most inspirational woman.

Julie Love, from Maryhill, put her own grief aside to plough her efforts into helping other families after her son Colin died in a drowning accident in the Caribbean. She felt that overseas police showed her son a lack of dignity after his death and struggled to access government support to bring him home.

Julie set up a charity to push for greater support and dignity for families and was also instrumental in leading to a change in Fatal Accident Inquiry laws, which broadened their scope to include Scots who have died overseas.

She suffered another blow when she was diagnosed with lymphoma, which is now in remission. She was made an MBE in 2018 for setting up DAYNA – Death Abroad You Are Not Alone, which provides advice, translation services and referrals.

Julie is in the running to be named Inspirational Woman of the year by Princes Square, which is hosting a month-long programme of events to mark International ­Women’s Day.

The winner will be announced on March 24 and as part of the prize will receive a £1000 donation to the charity of their choice.

Julie said: “I’m absolutely delighted to be shortlisted. I’d love to win the £1000 for DAYNA as it would really help to go towards planning for the repatriation trust.”

Other finalists include businesswoman Melissa McNaughton, who has Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia and is involved in charity work for the Dogs Trust, Cancer Research and Alzheimer’s.

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Jackie Bole received a nod for East End Flat Pack Meals in Easterhouse, which involves her delivering meals and running cookery classes in the community.

Pauline Moriarty is also in the running after setting up the charity ‘Beautiful Inside’ after losing her daughter Jenna to suicide at age 14.

The charity helps bereaved families through counselling and play therapy and provides free, unlimited access to counselling for young people struggling with their mental health.

Heather Stenhouse, who works at Strathclyde University, is also a finalist for leading an award-winning project called Breaking Barriers, which helps young people with a learning disability to gain a qualification and work experience.