The granddaughter of a beloved Edinburgh chippy owner is undertaking a massive physical challenge to raise money for cancer research.
Filomena Crolla, 30, will run the Ibiza Marathon on April 12 in memory of her grandmother who sadly passed away from ovarian cancer when Filomena was just 12 years old.
She said her grandmother's passing was a "massive loss" for the family hopes her run can raise money for alternative cancer treatments (you can find the fundraiser here).
The devoted granddaughter is named after her gran - also Filomena Crolla - who immigrated to Edinburgh from Picinisco, Italy in the early 1960s.
Filomena Snr, a "pillar" of her Edinburgh community, lived on Broughton Street for three decades where she also owned and ran the beloved chip shop Cafe Rapido.
Filomena told Edinburgh Live: "It's amazing that when I walk down Broughton Street, people still know my gran. [Her passing] was a massive loss to our family, she was a huge pillar in the community.
"She moved from Italy in her twenties, came to Edinburgh and started family, a family business, and was a really big part of Edinburgh's community.
"I was basically raised by her because my parents were always working. She was the rock of the family, a very, very strong woman. I hope I have traits carried on from her.
"She was the person always getting people around. Sunday lunch was an absolute given. She was an amazing cook and a go to point for everyone, such a moral compass. She was the glue of the family.
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"She had two bedrooms in her house and me and my cousins would always fight over who would get to sleep over in the bed at her place."
Filomena had never been a runner before this year when she joined a running group and got sucked into the sport. While "nervous" for the marathon, she has "proven herself" by completing a 32 kilometre run and is aiming to complete the full marathon in under four hours.
She also hopes to raise money to aid cancer researching, adding: "I know what a toll chemo can take on people. [My grandmother] was quite frail [from chemo] and I saw what that did to her.
"If there was something less aggressive or more effective, it would have been nice to have at the time. Cancer touches everyone's lives and it's rife in my family."
Filomena's fundraising campaign reads: "My Nonna Mena was the rock of our family. She raised me, spoiled me, and made sure I never left the house without at least three layers of clothing and a full stomach. She passed away from ovarian cancer when I was 12, and not a day goes by that I don’t miss her.
"Cancer took my Nonna too soon. If we can fund better treatments, maybe one day, no one will have to lose their own Nonna Mena. So, if you want to support an amazing cause (or just want to see if I survive this), please donate! Every penny helps."
You can donate to Filomena's fundraiser here.
