COMMONWEALTH Games gold medallist Ross Murdoch has spoken about the heartache of losing a childhood friend to cancer.
The 21-year-old swimmer from Balfron, Stirlingshire, said that the death of his former training partner Christopher Smith from the disease in 2012 had left a lasting impact on him.
Smith, who had an aggressive form of bone cancer, passed away aged just 17.
"We swam together between the ages of eight and 11," said Murdoch. "I hadn't seen him for a couple of years but when I heard the news it hit me hard. I remember getting into training and that day was a write-off. It was knowing that I wouldn't see my pal again.
"I have a close friend whose mum is suffering from breast cancer at the moment so it is something very much at the forefront of my mind."
Murdoch, who set a Scottish 100m breaststroke record of 59.13sec last week, has lent his support to the launch of a new three-year partnership between ScottishPower and Cancer Research UK to help raise funds to battle the disease.
The University of Stirling student took time out to share some tips with ScottishPower employee Vicki Dickson who is training for the Tough Mudder event at Drumlanrig Castle, Dumfries and Galloway in June, where she will raise money for Cancer Research UK.
The coaching session took place at Lochgoin Reservoir near Whitelee Windfarm.
To date ScottishPower has helped raise more than £6 million for Cancer Research UK. It hopes to take that tally to £10m in the next three years.
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