A devastated daughter has spoken of her family’s heartbreak after losing her mum to Motor Neuron Disease.

Jema Easdon’s mum Elizabeth passed away from the debilitating condition in February last year, but the 32-year-old is only now speaking about her death after finding the strength to raise money in her honour.

Elizabeth, 60, was diagnosed in February 2016 and Jema and her family had to watch as the cruel disease gradually ate away at their beautiful mum until she finally passed away in February 2018 – almost two years to the day she was diagnosed.

Jema said: “It was horrible seeing her like that. It’s a muscle wasting disease so she deteriorated really quite quickly.”

Following her mum’s death Jema took up running in a bid to raise money for the Ayrshire Hospice who cared for her beloved mum during her illness.

After training hard Jema managed to complete the Edinburgh Half marathon, despite admitting she “couldn’t run the length of herself”. 

Jema said: “The hospice were there for mum and for us every step of the way. The care she received was just outstanding.

“I took part in the Edinburgh half marathon as a tribute to my mum and as a way of saying thank you to the Ayrshire Hospice.

“Anyone who knows me knew I couldn’t run the length of myself. I just had sheer determination to cross the finish line.

“On the day of the race the heavens opened and I said an emotional wee prayer to my own special angel to get me over the line and for the sun to come out and my prayer was answered! I crossed the line with a good time and a great amount raised for the Ayrshire Hospice.

“We found the hospice to be a place filled with angels, the chosen few....all beautiful souls, sincere and true. Mum passed so peacefully, dignified at rest, surrounded by angels, just simply the best! I’ll never forget those angels for as long as I live.”

Between her run and a memorial event in honour of her mum, Jema has managed to raise more than £2,500 for the hospice.

There are still events remaining in 2019 that you can do in aid of the Ayrshire Hospice including the North Ayrshire Athletics Club 10K taking place in Ardrossan and Saltcoats on Sunday, August 25.

Runners wishing to run in aid of the hospice can claim a free place.

Martin Quigley, Fundraising Officer at the Ayrshire Hospice said: “We are constantly in awe of the level of commitment shown by our supporters when it comes to setting challenges.”