Marie Dobson - a tribute

By Kevin Mottram, Newmachar Running Group

Newmachar Running Group have said their last farewell to Marie Dobson, one of our jog leaders, who sadly passed away on 9 Dec 2021. Marie was a much-loved jog leader who had such an outgoing, fun loving and determined personality, who never gave up. She will be sorely missed by the leaders, members and all that knew her. She has left us with loads of memories, but most of all she has left us with a message “to stay positive and live your best life”.

We all knew how much she was suffering with secondary breast cancer when she returned to the group in 2019 however she maintained such a positive outlook and created her Marie Dobson Positive Plan (#PP). The #PP enabled members of the running group to contribute and help Marie to continue joining us on our planned weekly session as she joined us on a scooter which we surprised her with as a gift. The scooter enabled Marie to continue joining in the sessions and give out her instructions and encouragement to our members who were delighted that she was still able to attend.

The group also supported the #PP by wearing custom-made orange bracelets to show our support, some these bracelets made it far and wide with support from her idols in sport wearing the band and sending her a supportive messages. This included Dame Kelly Holmes showing her support - we then had to bring Marie back down to earth as she was just high as kite with the support given!

Left: Dame Kelly Holmes wore the band Right: Marie led her group on a scooter when she could no longer run.

Marie first joined the running group in 2015 as a member, just as the group was officially setting up as a jogscotland group. It was noted straight away that Marie’s skills coupled with her personality meant she would be a fantastic jog leader. We remember it taking less than a second when asked if she would like to be a leader for her to say ‘’YES, YES YES!’’. After her diagnosis in 2019 Marie was nominated by the members of the group and later crowned Jog Leader of the Year at the scottishathletics and jogscotland Awards Night in Glasgow. This was due to her consistent encouragement and selflessness to ensure others were achieving their goals, even though Marie was fighting a tough battle herself.

Newmachar Running Group will continue with Marie’s legacy as we have renamed our Inspiration Award after Marie Dobson. The Marie Dobson Award shall be awarded to any member(s) of the group at our yearly awards night to commemorate member(s) who have been inspiring, encouraging to others to achieving their goals.

Marie continues to be known for her inspiration - she was awarded the Inspiration Award at the Aberdeen Sports Awards in March 2022.

It would be fitting to end with a few words written by Marie to encourage others: “Go and live your best life, appreciate the beauty in this world, live each day with all your heart - and check your boobs!”

Marie met Paula Radcliffe when she won our Jog Leader of the Year Award