Perthshire schoolgirl sets Race for Life runners off after recovering from cancer

Ellie Sutherland was diagnosed with was diagnosed with Hodgkin Lymphoma in October

Published 16th Jun 2019

A brave Perthshire schoolgirl whose dream of being a model had to be put on hold after being diagnosed with cancer, has led the charge against the disease at Race for Life Dundee.

Ellie Sutherland, 16, rang the bell to send 1,000 runners on the 5K and 10K courses at Camperdown Park to raise vital funds for Cancer Research UK.

She inspired an 11-strong group of family and friends who have raised £3,000 to help scientists find new ways to treat cancer and save lives. They included Ellie’s sisters, Danielle, 23, and Megan,19, as well as her uncle, Scott Sutherland who has also recently had cancer.

Ellie met Tay FM breakfast presenters Stuart Webster and Claire Kinnaird who were on stage hosting the event. Webster who lost his own dad, Rod Webster to lung cancer in December 2014 shared with the crowd the heartache the disease can cause.

Ellie, who is a fourth year pupil at Perth High School, will ring another bell on Tuesday, to mark the end of her treatment at Edinburgh’s Royal Hospital for Sick Children and being in remission. She was diagnosed with Hodgkin Lymphoma in October.

Cancer Research UK funded scientists found the best combination of drugs to treat Hodgkin Lymphoma and today more than nine in 10 people survive.