We always wanted to give back to Logan's Fund, just hadn't had the chance yet. About March 2010, while stuck in hospital with a temperature in isolation for the umpteenth time, I was searching on the internet for a holiday for the family once Isla had completed her hospital treatment. Someone had suggested the charities that granted wishes for sick children, but searching showed that Isla wasn't old enough to be eligible for this. Someone else suggested fundraising myself to raise the money needed for our family holiday, and so my first blog began. We were overwhelmed with the support and donations received (and still are), and one donation in particular. We were contacted by Logan's Fund offering £3000 towards our holiday to Disneyland Paris!
Logan Reece Main was born on 16th January 2006, a much longed for child to Angela and Chris. In August 2008 Logan developed swelling in the abdomen, and he was admitted to the local hospital and immediately transferred to Royal Aberdeen Children's Hospital with a diagnosis of Neuroblastoma. Like many children having treatment for cancer, things didn't go smoothly. Logan hardly got home. An operation to remove the tumour was complex, and planned to happen in Great Ormond Street Hospital following further chemotherapy. While researching possible treatments for Logan, his parents discovered other treatment that Logan could have abroad after the tumour removal, but these would be expensive, and so Logan's Fund was established to raise the money needed.
Although Logan wasn't often well enough to get home, nothing fazed him. He was a much adored child and patient of the hospital. I never got to meet Logan. When Isla was diagnosed in April 2009, we spent ten days in the hospital in Aberdeen before being transferred to Yorkhill. That time spent for me was spent in a room with Isla with the door shut to the outside world. Ross stayed in the parent accommodation at night, and would pay visits to the cafe for coffee etc, and had a chance to meet other parents going through the same as us. Ross met Angela, and discovered her son Logan also had Neuroblastoma, like Isla.
When my mum came to visit us that weekend she'd brought the local paper with her, while flicking through I was drawn to a story. The story was about Logan, and the fundraising to get him treatment abroad. I remember the surreal feeling of reading a story like that, with the reality of the situation in our ward, and in our lives. Many people will be like me, and be drawn to stories like that in the newspapers, and this time the story was close to home, we were just like these people in the papers. You don't ever think that will happen to you. It's not the natural order of things; children getting cancer. You think it happens when people get old, or smoke too much etc. Magazines and newspapers had been full of the story of Jade Goody, losing her battle with cancer, shocking enough when cancer effects young women. While pregnant with Isla, two friends were also diagnosed with cancer. The truth of people 'not old' getting cancer was now reality for us.
Once we'd been in Yorkhill for a while I contacted Angela, as she was the only other person at the time I knew with a child suffering Neuroblastoma. She was able to offer support and advice. Unfortunately, it wasn't long before Logan lost his life to the terrible disease. Isla had turned a corner, and we were full of hope, and the reality of what could happen came with news of his death. Logan received a great send off, he had touched the hearts of many in his short life. When we returned to the hospital in Aberdeen, photos of his happy face were a welcome sight on the ward.
I kept in touch with Angela, and as I said we were overwhelmed with the offer of money for a holiday from Logan's Fund. It had been decided to keep Logan's Fund going, in his memory, using the money raised to help other children and families in a similar situation. Logan's Fund have donated to the Schiehallion Ward in Yorkhill, MFR Cash for Kids, CLAN (Cancer and Leukaemia in the North), Families Against Neuroblastoma, to help buy suits that enable children with a hickman line to swim.
Logan's Fund also started an annual family fun day, held in Lossiemouth every August. The fun day raises money to donate to charity. In 2010, money was raised for FAN, in 2011 for Make a Wish and in 2012 for the Neuroblastoma Alliance (NCCA). This years one will be held this Sunday 25th August from 12 - 5pm, with a car boot sale at 10am. So, if you're in the area, please do pop along!
Logan's Fund have helped families with a child affected by cancer, and want to continue to do so. Fundraising in the name of your child is not an easy thing. You share things, hear things and answer peoples questions and it's difficult to do that. Being a family affected by childhood caner is difficult, people who you have become friends with through the shared experience suffer terrible loss. Angela and Chris have suffered their own loss, yet want to keep Logan's legacy alive fundraising and supporting others. In gratitude to the support they offer, we wanted to give something back, so one way is doing the Kiltwalks for Logan's Fund. If you haven't yet donated to us, please consider a donation, so that Logan's Fund can continue helping others, leaving a lasting legacy of a beautiful wee boy.
To donate to our 3 Kiltwalks for Logan's Tartan Army, you can do so here:
http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=simpsons4logan
Or to donate to the team doing the Speyside Kiltwalk for Logan's Fund, you can donate here:
http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=LogansTartanArmy2013&isTeam=true
