Micaela is preparing to take on the Edinburgh Marathon Festival’s most demanding challenge next month: the Hairy Haggis. But for her, the run is about far more than distance or finish times. It is a deeply personal effort to raise funds for her brother Matthew’s care and support through Capability Scotland.
Although running is now central to her life, Micaela says it wasn’t always that way. Over time, she has grown into the sport and found strength through community, particularly among fellow runners in East London. “I wouldn’t say I’ve always been a runner,” she explained, “but it’s now a huge part of my life.” As she trains for the Hairy Haggis, she is fitting in as many miles as possible alongside the encouragement of a supportive network of friends and clubmates.
Her motivation for taking part is rooted in her family’s story. After the sudden death of her mother five years ago, Micaela and her siblings became welfare guardians for their brother Matthew, who was born with the cytomegalovirus and lives with learning disabilities, autism, epilepsy and severe anxiety. His needs have meant he has always required round-the-clock care, which is now provided by the lovely people in a residential home run by Capability Scotland. Places in facilities like this are extremely limited, and securing the right long-term environment for Matthew was something their mother had worked tirelessly to achieve.
Through her fundraising page, “Many Miles for Matthew,” Micaela explains that the money raised will support the rebuilding of Matthew’s care home, which is currently located on a flood-risk site. The goal is to help create a safer facility that includes a specialist hydrotherapy pool which is something she says would make a profound difference to residents’ wellbeing. Swimming, she notes, is where Matthew is “truly at his happiest,” offering both physical and mental benefits.
Micaela’s challenge is ambitious. Over the course of the Edinburgh Marathon Festival weekend, she plans to complete all four events: the 5km and 10km races on Saturday, followed by both the half marathon and the full marathon on Sunday making it not only a physical and mental challenge, but also logistical to co ordinate finishing the half marathon and getting back to the start for the marathon. Friends and supporters will be joining her for different stages, turning the effort into a shared community challenge as well as a personal one.
The festival itself holds special memories for her family. She recalls the pride she felt as a child when her mother returned home with a medal from the event, believing at the time she had “won” it. That moment has stayed with her ever since. Now, years later, she hopes to honour her mother’s memory by bringing people together to support Matthew and the wider care home community.
Her decision to take on the Hairy Haggis was sparked during a previous visit to Edinburgh, when she discovered an article about the challenge while picking up a copy of The Long Run magazine from Interval Running. Already thinking about ways to fundraise, she immediately recognised it as the right opportunity. “It just made sense,” she says. “It sounds like a big enough challenge that it’ll hopefully drum up a good amount of support and is based locally to where I grew up.”
With thousands already raised and more supporters joining her effort each week, Micaela’s run is shaping up to be a powerful tribute to her brother, her mother, and the community that continues to stand beside them.
You can donate to Micaela’s fundraising efforts here: https://www.justgiving.com/page/manymilesformatthew