Dear Friend,

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page

You may know that I am a Consultant in Geriatric Medicine working at Hairmyres Hospital, East Kilbride, and in my free time I try to keep fit by jogging / running 5-6K once or twice per week. During the past 3 years or so I have taken it a little more seriously, completing 7 half marathons, all in less than two hours, and raising some funds for charity in the process.

Last summer, I received the sad news of the death of a much respected colleague, Dr Pat Beausang (second photograph). Pat was also a Consultant in Geriatric Medicine who worked at Stirling Royal Infirmary from 2000 until his death from Acute Leukaemia, age 43, on 16^th August 2009. 

Pat trained at Cork University Medical School and qualified as a doctor in 1991. He had excelled at University winning a Health Research Board scholarship for his intercalated BSc in physiology which was subsequently awarded 1st class honours. Following graduation, Pat decided to pursue a career in Geriatric Medicine and moved to the West of Scotland in 1995 to take up a Specialist Registrar training post. He rotated through various hospitals including Stonehouse Hospital, the Southern General Hospital and finally the Western Infirmary and Gartnavel Hospitals. It was during this period that I came to know Pat and, like others, recognised his professional dedication to the health care of older people. As a Consultant Geriatrician from 2000 at Stirling Royal Infirmary, Pat's main areas of interest were in movement disorders and orthogeriatrics; the Day Hospital was an area of particular focus.  He was recognised for his meticulous style and dedication to the care of his patients.

Outside of medicine Pat was a keen athlete; he had participated in 10 km races, clocking around 30 minutes in his younger days!

Pat will be missed by everyone who knew him. He was a very practical, modest, hardworking doctor who was held in high regard by colleagues and patients; he had much more to contribute to the specialty of Geriatric Medicine and to the broader NHS.

With the encouragement of some of Pat's colleagues at Stirling Royal Infirmary and elsewhere in Scotland, I have sought and secured a "Gold Bond" place in the 2010 London Marathon with the charity "Elimination of Leukaemia Fund". This charity currently supports almost £1M worth of leukaemia-related medical research. I will be participating in the 2010 London Marathon in memory of Pat and all the sponsorship donations I raise will benefit the leukaemia charity.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

So please dig deep and donate now.