Mairi

Mairi is preparing to abseil 100ft from Scotland’s iconic Falkirk Wheel on Saturday 21 March in memory of her mother Anne, who died aged 61 in 2021.

Anne was diagnosed with cancer and died just six weeks later. A few days later, Mairi’s father-in-law also died in what was a difficult year for the family.

Mairi said: "It was a very difficult time. Both my mum and my father-in-law were taken to the hospital on Friday, 29 October 2021.

"On that day, my mum was diagnosed with cancer, and my father-in-law passed away in the hospital a few days later.

"My mum lived for six weeks after her diagnosis - much of that in hospital. I had a tiny baby, so I was balancing being in the hospital as much as I could, being with my husband in his deep grief, and being home to care for my toddler and breastfeed my baby. 

"Amid all this, I was in shock. Everything was unexpected; it felt like I had been sailing along, and suddenly, the ship had sunk.

"The brain fog at the start was unbelievable. I could not concentrate. Simple tasks like cooking felt impossible. I was burning baby purees and so frustrated with myself!

"I was trying to support everyone around me, but I wasn't allowing myself time to grieve. Sometimes things trigger my grief again, leading to "griefy" days—though never as intense as back in 2021 and 2022."

Raising money for Cruse Scotland

Mairi’s mother, Anne, completed a placement in bereavement counselling at Cruse Scotland as part of her counselling training, not long before her death.

That is why Mairi has decided to abseil from the Falkirk Wheel and raise money for Cruse Scotland.

Mairi said: "We talked about it, and it was meaningful to her. At her funeral, we asked people to donate to Cruse Scotland as one of the charities we wanted to support at that time.

"When I saw the opportunity on Facebook, I thought I would enter the draw for a place in the charity abseil, as I would like to continue to support Cruse Scotland."

Mairi shared how she would like her mum to be remembered.

She said: "She was so special to lots of people in so many ways. Her faith was very important to her.

"She was a joy to be with, so caring, intelligent, interesting, funny, and humble. Truly, I think she might be a bit horrified that I am doing a charity abseil in her memory!

"She asked me to plant a tree! I just think that planting a forest would not be enough. This abseil is only the start."

You can donate to Mairi’s Falkirk Wheel Abseil Challenge by clicking here.