On 11 May, Veronica Largue took part in the Run Garioch Half Marathon to raise money for charity. But this was just the start of her fundraising journey as on the same day she held a charity music gig, before climbing Ben Nevis the following week and then completing the 18-mile Aberdeen Kiltwalk on 1 June. Behind the challenges was one goal – to raise money for a cause close to her heart.
“We’re a close family and this is my way of showing support”
My family and I are all very close and always come together to support each other. When I found out that my eldest niece Ashleigh and her three-year-old daughter Harper both have myotonic dystrophy type 1, I just wanted to do something to help.
In 2022, Ashleigh gave birth to a baby girl, Harper. It soon became apparent that Harper had bilateral clubfoot and wasn’t meeting her development milestones. The initial diagnosis was low muscle tone but eventually some tests were done, and we were told that she has the muscle weakening condition myotonic dystrophy type 1.
“It was a worrying time for all of us. We’d heard of muscular dystrophy but not this particular condition and no one in the family knew anything about it. As it’s genetic, it led to my niece also being tested and receiving the same diagnosis shortly after her daughter.”
Looking back now, we can see that Ashleigh was displaying some symptoms shortly after leaving school and in her early 20s, but due to myotonic dystrophy being so rare it’s not easily diagnosed. The symptoms also tend to become more severe the further down generations it goes, hence why Harper has had such an early diagnosis.
Ashleigh asked me if I could help her to organise something to raise money and awareness for Muscular Dystrophy UK and I didn’t hesitate. A group of 12 of us signed up to do the Aberdeen Kiltwalk together as a family, but I decided to push my fundraising a bit further.
The Run Garioch Half Marathon came first, and I decided to organise a music gig at a local pub on the same day. We had local musicians performing, and I reached out to one of the run’s sponsors, McWilliam Lippe Architects, who kindly agreed to support my charity event too. I think around £400 was raised on that day.
One week later, and with the Aberdeen Kiltwalk just a fortnight away, I decided that I needed to do a training walk so set off to climb Ben Nevis, joined by my 14-year-old son Liam. Then on Sunday 1 June, I joined 11 members of my family to walk 18 miles and cross the Aberdeen Kiltwalk finish line together.
“It was a special moment all crossing the finish line together. We’re very close as a family, and this was our way of showing our support to each other and especially Ashleigh and Harper.”
I spent a lot of time with Ashleigh when she was a baby and toddler, and we’ve always had a strong bond. She’s so busy caring for Harper so to be able to do something for them both is a real honour.
As well as raising money to help fund research, I really want to increase awareness of the condition – so few people have heard of it, and I think there’s very little understanding of how it impacts individuals and families.
And I’ve obviously caught the fundraising bug as I’ve now signed up to run the London Marathon 2026 for Muscular Dystrophy UK in honour of Ashleigh and Harper!
Interested in taking part in Kiltwalk?
Find out more about the Kiltwalk Series and sign up to help change the future of muscle wasting conditions.
Inspired by Veronica's story?
There are so many ways you can fundraise for people living with a muscle wasting or weakening condition. No idea is too big or too small.
