DOROTHY Lang has recovered from two serious illnesses in the past three years - acute paralysis from vitamin B12 deficiency, followed by a diagnosis of stomach cancer which required major surgery and chemotherapy.
It was her response to both conditions and her efforts to walk again that led her husband Dr Stephen Lang to nominate her to be a baton bearer in Dundee yesterday.
Dorothy, 54, from Broughty Ferry, said: "I count myself blessed and very lucky to be included in this celebration and certainly to be doing the section that includes the Maggie's Centre.
"My recovery was tough and had many peaks and troughs. I was always comforted that the centre was there with an amazing team. Without every person involved in my care I would not be the person I am today.
Ahead of the event she said: "In my humble opinion there are many more out there more deserving. That said I have been chosen and I certainly will run with every person in mind who is fighting to survive and for those who have sadly not made it.
"The feelings of pride are so strong I find myself fighting those dreaded tears at times."
Lesley Howells, who heads the Dundee centre, said it had been a "huge honour" to have the baton stop by on its tour of the city. "It was lovely to have the baton carried over Maggie's threshold by Dorothy, someone who has experience of cancer and understands the evidence based programme of support Maggie's offers people with cancer and their families and friends."
Dorothy has shown her gratitude to the NHS by manufacturing a large number of self-made hat pins and donating proceeds of almost £1,000 to Maggie's Centre in Dundee. She plans to continue raising money for charity to thank those that helped her.
She and her husband are planning to walk the last section of the famous Camino de Santiago in Northern Spain in aid of Maggie's in September. They will do nearly 70 miles in six days.
She said: "This was my focus when I lost the use of my legs."
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