Tayside Children with Cancer and Leukaemia

Calums Cabin

12 year old Rothesay boy, Calum Speirs lost his fight for life little more than a year after being diagnosed with a brain tumour. Brave Calum, a first year pupil at Rothesay Academy, died peacefully at home in Mountstuart Road on Friday 16th February 2007. The funeral service, much of it arranged by Calum himself, was held at the former High Kirk on Wednesday 21st February 2007.

Calum was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour only a few days after the first symptoms were noticed last January- but he’s left his family with a host of happy memories from the 13 months since then. In the 13 months, Calum was an inspiration to all who knew and met him. Calum always laughed and smiled, and his priority was always to think of others.

Calum and his family had decided that they would like to keep helping others by having a Holiday Cabin in Calum’s name to allow other families who are dealing with a child with cancer to have a wonderful holiday on the Isle of Bute.

To find out more about Calums Cabin visit the website here.

Halloween Party 2009

Following a horrendous day of rain on Sun 1 Nov, some 6 families battled there way through flooded roads to get to Jumping Joey's in Arbroath for the TCCL Halloween party.

From the committee, both Bob Robertson and John Walker made it to Arbroath.  But the journey to arbroath was interesting to say the least.   Diverted off the A92 just outside Dundee due to an accident and travelling through Monifieth and Carnoustie to rejoin the main road.   Tis was followed by navigating through a severly flooded section of road just before Muirdrum, and again along the sea front towards Macdonalds in Arbroath.

New TCCL Supporter

Bruce and his staff at the Riverside Inn by Dundee Airport are adopting TCCL as a charity that they will support in the coming months.    Bruce is no stranger to TCCL, when a couple of years ago when he was manager of the Weavers Mill in Dundee, he got involved in raising money for us, until he moved away from the city.

Now he is back and has renewed his links with us.   He and his staff would warmly welcome you to the Riverside Inn, and we are looking forward to working with them in the future.

There is a link to their website on our scrolling supporters menu, should you wish to look at their current menu.

Dundee Ice Show 2009

Click on the more link to see the flyer for the Ice Show which will take place on Sat 19th Dec in Dundee.

Teenager's "trip of a lifetime"

TEENAGE cancer sufferer from Cupar has been given a dream trip in the skies over Fife thanks to a secret" millionaire.

Jennifer Wilson (17), a pupil at Bell Baxter, was invited on a special helicopter flight by the Dundee-born philanthropist Tony Banks, who has appeared on the Channel 4 show, The Secret Millionaire.

The businessman, who founded the residential care home organisation, Balhousie Care Group, contacted Jennifer after learning of her cancer battle.

Sing a Song for Charity

Recently TCCL was presented with a cheque for £400 by Encore Choir Group.  The money was raised following a show which they held, after which the money was split between TCCL and a Youth Group Transport Fund.

The presentation was held in Scone Old Church Hall on Wednesday 9th September, and Hazel Melrose from TCCL was on hand to receive the cheque on our behalf.

The ladies in the picture left to right are Irene Dye (Chairperson), Hazel Melrose and Davina Lindsay (Musical Director).

Teddy Bears Picnic 2009

Sun 30th Aug saw the annual TCCL Teddy Bears Picnic which was held at Monikie Park.   A dull day, but at least this year the rain stayed away.

The Bouncy Castle was again popular, as was the cake decoration and Face Painting, and Craft Table.

Once again Gaye served up the burgers from the barbeque.

Check out the photos below from the day.

Just remember to take it off before you go to work tomorrow !!	Cake Decoration goes well at the Picnic
Always a popular attraction at the event	More Fun on the Castle
Winners of the Teddy Bear Competition - Well done both of you.	Want to Hire the bouncy castle for your own event, Here are the details of how to do just that.

ROSS's Marathon Effort

Ross Day, aged 20 from Fintry, Dundee, decided earlier this year to raise money for TCCL by running the Edinburgh marathon.

Ross joined the RAF in march 08, was asked by a friend who does a lot of running if he would join him for the edinburgh marathon.  Having reluctantly agreed, and having no previous running experience, he however thought it would be a chance to raise money for a charity.

He spoke to members of his family who had recently held a chocholic frolic at their church in Bingham Terrace in aid of TCCL and recommended TCCL as a good local charity worthy of raising money for.

So that was that, there was no turning back on his marathon pledge now, although he had done very little training for various reasons.

The Edinburgh Marathon day turned out to be the hottest of the year so far, a blazing 25 DegC heat, meaning it was a bit of a struggle and Ross limped home in what he considered to be a rather poor time, which he is determined to amend next year!

Thanks to all his family and friends collecting as much sponsors as possible he was able to raise £725 for TCCL in addition to a further £150 online for another local charity.

Photo shows Ross handing over the cheque for £725 to John Walker (TCCL CHairman) in front of RRS Discovery at Discovery Quay.

Thanks to Ross for this magnificent effort.

RORY GETS “ON HIS BIKE” FOR CHARITY

Late last year Rory Napier from Montrose decided to do the 2009 ETAPE Caledonia cycle race and was looking for a local charity for which he could raise funds.  Rory is a regular platelet donor at Ninewells Hospital and having seen the Tayside
Childre n with Cancer and Leukaemia (T.C.C.L.) website he made contact with the charity, and outlined his plans.

TCCL is a charity which supports children diagnosed with Cancer or Leukaemia, and their families, within the Tayside and North East Fife area.

Having gathered in his sponsorship he came
down to Ninewells Hospital on the 11^th Aug to present a Cheque for £852 to TCCL.

The presentation took place in the TCCL garden outside Ward 29 of the Ninewells Childrens Hospital.    As he handed over the cheque, Rory commented “Having seen the work that the charity does, including the provision of this safe play area for the kids whilst in hospital, I am delighted to be able to help them keep up the good work that they do.”

Garden Play Equipment Installed

TCCL have recently purchased a number of items of good quality play equipment for the TCCL garden at Ninewells Hospital.

These Items have now been delivered and installed by "Active Kidz" in Stanley, and are now in use by chilren on the ward during good weather when they can get out into the garden and enjoy themselves.