Raine Scott Anderson has exceeded her fundraising target for cancer research ahead of her London Marathon tribute to her mother.
The Somerset West resident has spent eight months training while raising
£2 921 (R66 598) for neuroendocrine tumour research for the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF), exceeding her £2 500 target.
The 24-year-old made the decision last August despite never running more than 4 km, but her motivation was deeply personal (“Novice to take on marathon“, DistrictMail & Helderberg Gazette, 13 August 2025).
“I want to run for the people who can’t run because they’ve either lost their lives to cancer or may not be able to fulfil certain dreams because of their current situation,” Scott Anderson said.
This stems from her family’s experience. In 2019 her mother Nicci was diagnosed with a neuroendocrine tumour after doctors discovered it during unrelated surgery. Scott Anderson, then 17, recalled her father, Alan, calling to break the news.
“It came as a massive shock because we woke up knowing mum was going in for a procedure, then at the end of the day we were told that she might have cancer.”
Because neuroendocrine tumours are rare, treatment information was limited and Nicci thought she’d need medical care abroad. She eventually found treatment locally and underwent multiple surgeries over three years.
Then came life-changing news. “In November last year my mum went to an oncologist specialising in neuroendocrine cancer, and after a scan was told she was cancer-free,” Scott Anderson related.
Training hasn’t been without its challenges for her. “It’s been a roller-coaster. I went through a dip in January when I was struggling to find motivation. The slump was brief after joining the Somerset West Run Crew and completing a 10 km race on Saturday 8 March.”
The marathon has become a family endeavour, with her father cycling alongside her on training runs and her mother preparing post-run meals. “It’s become one whole-group effort to make sure I survive,” Scott Anderson declared.
Scott Anderson’s motivation was reinforced when a family acquaintance was diagnosed with neuroendocrine cancer. “I immediately broke down when I found out because it took me back to when my mum was first diagnosed. It reminded me of why I was doing this.”
Fundraising a challenge
Fundraising proved challenging, requiring her to overcome hesitation about sharing her journey online. “My favourite place to post has been Instagram and it really surprised me how supportive people are,” she related.
Steve Greenberg, UK director of WCRF said they are grateful to Raine for tackling the London Marathon. “Every step raises funds for life-saving research,” he said.
Scott Anderson said meeting the target was a “relief” as she had secured her spot in the race. “You can still donate – the goal was just a minimum to secure my place,” she pointed oy.
She departs for the UK on Tuesday 21 April for the marathon on Sunday 26 April. “I just want to soak it all in, because I’ve been training since August last year. I’m not going to race through this marathon and miss it all.”
True to her roots, Scott Anderson is excited about where South Africans traditionally hand out boerewors rolls to competitors. “If you see me stuck at a certain point just know I’m munching on some boerewors rolls.”
To donate, visit https://events.wcrf.org/fundraisers/rainescottanderson.
Follow her journey on Instagram @rainescottt or TikTok @rainescottt.
