JOGSCOTLAND Dunfermline raised £3,250 for the charity that's helping one of their members cope with the death of his son.

They gave the money to Jak's Den, which has been supporting the family of Aaron Murphy, who died in May at the age of just 11 after a brave battle against cancer.

The McLean Primary School pupil was fighting relapsed neuroblastoma after the disease came back five-and-a-half years into remission.

His father, Dougie, is a member of the running group and said: "“For me and my family, what Jak’s Den offers has been amazing.

"Childhood cancer affects the whole family.

"Aaron’s sister has some major anxiety while trying to process that her brother had cancer.

"My wife, Louise, and myself both struggled to come to terms with Aaron’s illness returning.

"Unfortunately, as adults we understand the gravity of the situation.

"Thanks to Team Jak, we are able to handle things a little easier."

Jak’s Den offers emotional, social and practical support to children and young people with cancer and related illnesses from all over Scotland.

Most of their Fife activities take place in Glenrothes.

Dougie continued: "The pain will always be with us but the services they have offered have been a lifeline for us.

"We have all received counselling.

"Emma and Aaron both had music therapy and play therapy. We are also able to go to the den when we want to.

"They offer a list of activities to take our minds away from the hospital and spend some quality time with families in a similar situation as ourselves.

"The team at Jak’s Den are all amazing and we love being part of the Team Jak family, they continue to support us all as a family and individuals.”

Christine Garvie set up Jogscotland Dunfermline in 2003, along with four other runners, and the club now has more than 1,000 members and has raised more than £8,500 for local charities and good causes.

They have donated to Diabetes Scotland, Muscular Dystrophy and Action on Depression before deciding to donate £3,250 for Jak’s Den. Christine said: “We chose Jak’s Den this year because one of our members told us about the great work that they do in helping families with terminally-ill children and we heard first-hand how important this was.”

The 2019 fundraising included a triple challenge which kicked off in May with a ‘Hell o’ Beath Run, Ride and Climb’. It involved members competing to get to the top of Hill of Beath and back in the fastest time.

The second challenge, the ‘Summer Solstice Run, Ride & Walk’ took place on the Forth Road Bridge in June, with teams of runners, bikers and walkers competing in a sunset relay to cross back and forth over the bridge in the fastest time before sunrise.

The third challenge in September was climbing a Munro – Carn Liath near Pitlochry.