Brave seven-year-old Ayesha Siddiqui launched the 5K in the South Side's Pollok Park, despite spending most of the last week in city's Yorkhill Sick Kid's Hospital.

More than 300 walkers raised £2500 for the Anthony Nolan charity which is trying to find her a match for a bone marrow transplant.

Kids from Ayesha's school, Kirkhill Primary in Newton Mearns, joined in to support their classmate.

Her dad, Nadeem, 50, said: "It was absolutely brilliant - about 300 came despite the rain.

"I am astonished at people's kindness and generosity."

Nadeem, a cancer doctor at the city's Royal Infirmary, said Ayesha was "full of beans" at yesterday's event.

He said: "She has had a lovely time running around and blowing her whistle and acting like a marshal."

As reported previously in the Evening Times, Ayesha was diagnosed with the illness last year, and has been having chemotherapy.

Although a million people have been tested, no match has been found for her and due to her background, a match is most likely to come from someone in the Asian ethnic group.

None of her family – including brother Saif, 4, and mum Noreen, 47, a Glasgow Caledonian University lecturer – is suitable. Revellers at Glasgow Mela on June 23 and 24 in Kelvingrove Park will be asked to join the register.

Ayesha's appeal has been backed by Glasgow actors and TV presenters Sanjeev and Hardeep Singh Kohli.

To join the register visit www.anthony nolan.org