Over the past year I'd spoken to various people about their experience and their fundraising efforts. While contemplating a big challenge, I thought I would do it when the time was right. Checking the dates of various overseas Kilttrek's next year, I noticed one that might fit in with school holidays. That fact alone was enough to seal the deal and I signed up to climb Kilimanjaro next year with the Kiltwalk.
We've done quite a bit of fundraising since December 2009. When it was discovered that Isla still had cancer following surgery to remove her tumour, I decided to shave of all my hair for Cancer Research UK, raising over £4700. Ross and friends decided to join in with hair removal (body) raising money for the Neuroblastoma Society, raising about £1000. Once Isla’s treatment was complete, I fundraised to do a sky dive for Sparks fund into Neuroblastoma research raising over £2000. When Ross and I were married, we requested no gifts, and instead collected money for Yorkhill (Schiehallion Ward), Archie (parent accommodation and Moray Friends of Archie) and SAAFA, raising almost £2,400. We also gave guests a card detailing a donation that had been made to FAN in their name instead of a wedding favour.
When Isla was declared in remission we held a disco
fundraising for Malcolm Sargent House, Calum’s Cabin and Christian Lewis Trust (now called Kids Cancer Charity) who had all provided holidays for us during and after Isla’s treatment to spend
quality time together as a family, raising £360. We
are so grateful to the support we received from charities, and want other
families to receive the same support, so we like to give back and raise
awareness.
As well as this fundraising, Isla also had her own appeal, raising money should she ever relapse and need treatment abroad. Almost £23,000 has been raised in Isla's appeal. We made the decision that if Isla reaches the 'All Clear' in January 2016 this money will be given to Neuroblastoma research.
With all this money and events, we've had our fair share of fundraising, experiencing the good and the bad. Actively fundraising for your own child's appeal was tough mentally, people will let you down, but also the kindness and generosity of others will astound you. Fundraising alone can be tough, but also dealing with your child undergoing treatment and the anxiety associated with that can make you a touch more sensitive! When we stopped fundraising for Isla's appeal, we wanted to step back a bit emotionally. Then the Kiltwalk appeared in our lives!
Thankfully the emotion experienced with the Kiltwalk has been a positive one, and hasn't required too much out of us mentally. We fundraise because of what our daughter went through, what friends of ours children go through and what we know other parents will go through. There is a spirit in the Kiltwalk community, which really emphasises why we do it - for the bairns! The blipfoto written by Ian was also a nice reminder of why people do it, I think I cried at nearly every one. Check it out if you can.
Our Kiltwalk fundraising for the last two years has been for Logan's Fund and will continue to be. Supporting a local cause, where you know the parents, and so closely linked with our own experience means it is extremely important to us. I haven't felt too stretched emotionally doing the Kiltwalks. This break has been enough to allow me to step up for one more big challenge; climbing a mountain!
This big challenge also fits in with something 'big' that Logan's Fund want to achieve. A new initiative; 'Logan's Sunny Days'. They want to purchase their own caravan in Lossiemouth so they can offer respite holidays to families undergoing treatment for cancer. We know first hand how valued these types of holidays are thanks to Calum's Cabin, Christian Lewis and Malcolm Sargent house. So, next year the challenge is to raise £4,200 to get me up a mountain to undertake a very physically demanding challenge but I'll be doing it so that Logan's Fund can provide respite holidays to families, just like we had.
You can donate to this challenge here:
