AN intrepid Inverkip mum has gone the extra mile in aid of a lifeline service which supports her hearing-impaired son.

Fiona Kane pounded the pavements for 13.1 miles at the Great Scottish half marathon to raise £1,200 for the Garvel Deaf Centre, which is based within Moorfoot Primary School.

The 39-year-old says the service has been life changing for her 10-year-old son Lyall, a Wemyss Bay Primary pupil, who has been supported by the centre for about nine years.

She said: "The staff from Garvel go to his primary school to support him and have done so since he was in nursery.

"They are absolutely fabulous, we are so lucky in Inverclyde to have that resource.

"The staff are second to none - they totally support the kids and are always there for them.

"It's just fabulous what they do for them so it's great to give something back.

"Knowing I was running for centre kept me going."

Lyall has had impaired hearing since birth which results in him wearing a bone anchored hearing aid (BAHA) - a type of hearing aid which is attached to the skull during a minor operation and sends sound to the inner ear by vibrating the bones nearby.

She said: "This is brilliant technology and allows Lyall to hear to a degree.

"The Garvel staff do so much for all the children to give them confidence and support them to achieve.

"They are great."

Fiona said the centre is now working closely with Lyall to support him in his transition to high school.

She also says he is grateful for everyone's donations, which helped boost her fundraising total through the four-figure barrier.

She added: "I've been bowled over by the generosity of friends, family and everyone who donated.

"I originally aimed to raise £500, but by the end of the first night we had raised so much that so we set the target for £1,000 not really expecting to get there, so the end figure is amazing."

Karen MacLeod, principal teacher at Garvel Deaf Centre, said Fiona's fundraising efforts are welcome

She said: "We are absolutely thrilled, and so are the kids.

"They know that Fiona ran really far and raised lots of money to help them."

The proud mum received a beautiful card from the children and money will help the service cover the cost of everything that doesn't come out of the school budget, such as trips and extra curricular activities for pupils.