06 Oct 2026
An Ayrshire mum has raised £1,550 by completing the Great Scottish Run last weekend in memory of her baby girl, Lila.
Emma Sykes, from Prestwick, took on the Half Marathon to raise important funds for Crosshouse Children’s Fund and to say thank you for the care and support she received during an unimaginably difficult time.
At a routine scan in February, Emma received the devastating news that her baby no longer had a heartbeat. Emma gave birth to her little girl, Lila, two days later.
“The care we received from the maternity team made an unbearable situation feel as safe and as gentle as it possibly could,” said Emma. “The bereavement unit became a sanctuary for us during the worst days of our lives. The support didn’t stop when we left the hospital either and the kindness of the staff has stayed with us.”
Last weekend, Emma joined hundreds of other runners fundraising for important causes at The Great Scottish Run, turning her heartbreak into a positive story in Lila’s precious memory.
“The half marathon is a huge challenge, but that’s part of why I wanted to do it. I wanted to be able to cross the finish line knowing I completed something difficult in Lila’s memory, and through fundraising, her life has helped make a difference to other families,” added Emma. “It’s about turning something incredibly heartbreaking into something positive in Lila’s memory.”
“We are incredibly grateful to Emma for choosing to honour Lila’s memory in such a meaningful way” said Kirsten Watson, CEO of Crosshouse Children’s Fund. “Completing the half marathon is a fantastic achievement, and the funds that Emma has raised in Lila’s name will help so many more children and families who are cared for in hospital in Ayrshire.”
Take on a challenge for Crosshouse Children’s Fund in 2027 by signing up for the Edinburgh Marathon Festival: https://www.crosshousechildrensfund.org/support-us/events/166-edinburgh-marathon-festival
