A group of family and friends have raised more than £17,000 for Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group (CCLG) by taking on a brace of triathlons.
Laura and Allan Hay’s son Gillon was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) as a two-year-old in April 2017.
When the end of Gillon’s chemotherapy approached in July 2020, Allan decided he wanted to fundraise for CCLG to coincide with it.
He signed up for the Montrose and Forfar Triathlons while convincing some of his family and friends to join him in his efforts, but COVID-19 restrictions forced the events’ cancellations.
However, two years later, their rescheduling allowed Laura, who was pregnant with her and Allan’s third child when the original events were cancelled, to also join Team ‘Come Tri with Me’ by signing up for the 2022 Montrose event.
Laura said the events were enjoyable but tough, though everyone’s efforts were all made worthwhile the moment they crossed the finish line.
She said:
We were so delighted that our family and friends were keen to join the challenges and also help us fundraise.
The events were challenging but do-able and there was probably a bit of friendly competition!
They were so well organised and the event team and volunteers were so friendly and helpful.
We had a lot of support from family and friends who came to cheer us on. The weather was also on our side so that added to the enjoyment, and probably to the keenness of our supporters to hang around!
Both events were well supported by the local communities, too, so it was an incredible feeling to be part of it.
The buzz crossing the line and knowing that you had secured donations for CCLG was the best feeling. All the muscle pain and fatigue disappeared - mostly!
Gillon is now aged seven and doing well, while continuing to attend regular check-ups at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee. Laura described him as the “bravest guy we know” and said that she and Allan are very proud of him.
And though she admitted there was a “a slight trepidation” amongst the team when the triathlons were reorganised for 2022, she said everyone was inspired to succeed by knowing what a difference they could make to children like Gillon in the future.
She said: “Everyone had trained hard in 2020 because it was cancelled only a few months before the event was due to take place.
“Some of our original team couldn’t take part anymore and some new faces joined instead.
“However, once we were organised and back training, it felt very exciting to see the fundraising money increase and know that a crowd of good friends, who knew what Gillon and others had endured, could raise such a great amount of money.”
Laura said the team were delighted to have raised such a huge sum of money and explained what it meant to them to have done so.
She said:
We are so pleased to have raised this amount of money. We know the difference it will make.
We picked CCLG [to fundraise for] because of its focus on research and improving treatments.
It means a lot to us, and our family and friends, to try to give back in some small way with the aim of supporting a charity that will continue to improve treatment options for children’s cancer so that more children will survive and with lesser side effects.
Gill Smitherman, Head of Fundraising at CCLG, said: “We’d like to say a huge thank you to Allan, Laura and Team Come Tri with Me for the incredible dedication and support they’ve shown.
“Their kindness will make a huge difference to changing the future for children with cancer.”