July 19, 2017, marks a significant and poignant day for Rangers defender Kathryn Hill, as it is the day she endured the loss of her mother, Lesley.

Hill recalls to Daily Mail Sport, “My father came home one evening and said, ‘That’s it, mum is now in palliative care.'”

She reflects that the revelation of her mother’s condition was more challenging to bear than the actual day of her passing. “She spent four or five days in the hospital. We stayed by her side the entire time, aware that it was only a matter of time,” Hill shares.

In conjunction with breast cancer awareness month, Hill is determined to raise her voice about a disease that continues to be a leading cause of death in the UK.

“Breast cancer doesn’t pick favorites,” says Hill, now 31. “It can affect anyone, regardless of age or background. It’s crucial for individuals to be aware, understand their bodies, and make regular self-examinations part of their routine.”

Rangers player Kathryn Hill with her mother Lesley, who died in 2017 aged just 51

Kathryn Hill looks to the heavens after scoring a goal for Rangers against Kilmarnock

She adds, “Everyone at Rangers knows about my mum. I always wear pink tape on my wrist and pink laces, but it hasn’t sparked conversations about self-examinations. It’s vital to remind people to conduct regular checks on themselves.”

For anyone who receives a cancer diagnosis, it’s always a massive shock for both them and their loved ones. Hill was thousands of miles away, having just started a football scholarship in America, when she heard her mum had stage four cancer.

‘My mum had dropped me off at the airport. She was going straight to hospital that day. She’d been having issues with her back.

‘My coaches knew before me that she had cancer, and she didn’t tell me because she was trying to work out what stage she was at and what the outcome was going to be.

‘She’d got in touch with Angie Hind (Hill’s coach in America) and Michelle Barr, who are both Scottish. She told them first. She then texted me one day when I was in class and said: “I want you to go and see Angie. I want to speak with you”.

‘I remember thinking it was so weird that she wanted to speak to me with my coach there, but you know when you get that gut feeling that something is not right? I called her when I got out and she told me what was happening. I don’t think I will ever forget that day.

‘When I heard, I just wanted to go home. The cancer had spread to her bones and other parts of her body.

‘I’d only been in America for two weeks. I hadn’t been away from home before that either, so it was such a big thing for me in the first place just moving away from home to then getting that news. But Angie and Michelle were really good with me.

Defender Hill kisses the Scottish Cup after winning the trophy with Rangers this summer

‘They had also worked with me at Rangers, so they looked out for me. They knew I could go to them if I needed to but also kind of just let me get on with it as well. My mum was adamant there was no point in coming home.

‘I couldn’t change anything, and she didn’t want me to almost stop my dream of playing over there and just to come home and sit about and be miserable.

‘My mum was always so positive. She told me they wouldn’t ever be able to get to get rid of the cancer, but she would fight it for as long as she could.’

Having former Scotland internationals Hind and Barr on hand was a massive help. Hind had been instrumental in helping Hill secure a place in Old Dominion University, a dream come true for the young Rangers fan who had grown up obsessed with football.

‘It was my mum who was pivotal in me becoming a professional footballer,’ says Hill.

‘She was the one that always took me to training and things like that.

‘When I moved up to Rangers for my first stint there (before becoming a professional), we used to train late at night, and she would work all day and then run me up to training, then sit in the car and carry on with her work. She was at every game.

‘She sacrificed so much to make sure I was at the right place at the right time. Before I moved back to Rangers for my second spell as a professional, I was a teacher down in Durham.

Kathryn Hill in action for Rangers during this year’s Scottish Cup final against Glasgow City

‘When I was teaching all day, then rushing off to go to training, there were a few nights where I was absolutely knackered and I remember thinking: “How did my mum do this?”. It was all done for me.

‘It was much later on in my life when I really fully appreciated that. When I was in her shoes and understanding how much time and effort it takes. My mum never complained because she knew football was something I loved. She wanted me to do it. She was such a massive influence in getting me to where I am today.’

Hill admits that, even now, she always has mementos of her mum when she’s on the pitch.

‘I still wear one of her rings. And it’s been 10 years now that I’ve been wearing pink laces. My mum was diagnosed in January 2015, and that’s when I started wearing them. I’ve also got pink tape around my wrists.

‘Whenever I buy a new pair of boots, I order a pair of new pink laces and then the tape I just wear in every game.

‘All the girls have worn pink tape around their wrists as well and that’s something we’ve always done since I’ve been at Rangers in October. It’s nice to see them supporting breast cancer awareness but also knowing they’re doing it to support me and my mum.’

Increasing awareness of breast cancer is crucial, says Hill. Charity CoppaFeel! have been at the the heart of this since their inception in 2009, and have recently visited several Scottish women’s clubs to highlight the dangers.

Rangers star Hill, pictured with the ball against Aberdeen, is looking to increase awareness over breast cancer

But Hill, who rejoined Rangers from English side Durham in 2022, believes more can still be done by the SWPL to keep awareness high on the agenda.

‘We’re obviously a female league so it’s something that will unfortunately affect other people within our league at some point in their lives.

‘Sports and people within sports can be so powerful and we need to try to use the league and teams to promote this issue.

‘If we just continue to ignore it, we’re going to be hearing the same sad stories, unfortunately. If we can really use our platform to talk about something that we’re passionate about and care about, then it will reach more people.’

For more information, check out: www.coppafeel.org