Big-hearted family use Bannockburn fundraiser to raise thousands for local cause
The charity night - which attracted an audience of 120 people - was designed to raise money for the Eilidh Brown Memorial Fund, set up after the tragic death of a teenager from cancer.
A big-hearted family have raised almost £6000 for a local charity set up in memory of a teenager who died of a rare form of cancer.
Caitlin Adams says her family have been avid fundraisers for all of her life and she too, over the last four years, has planned multiple fundraising events.
But thanks to a meeting with the family of Eilidh Brown, she was inspired to dedicate the latest effort to the charity set up in Eilidh's name.
Caitlin and her family hosted a charity night at McQ's Bannockburn in aid of the Eilidh Brown Memorial Fund, which was attended by more than 120 people and managed to raise an amazing £5,740 for the charity.
'My charity events first started off as bake sales for Cancer Research in 2022 and 2023, but last year I decided that I wanted to make it bigger and better and it was our first charity night in aid of CHAS.
'This year we chose the Eilidh Brown Memorial Fund as we wanted to raise as much awareness as possible.
'I hadn't actually heard of the charity until I met Eilidh's mum and dad last year (Gordon Brown and Nicole Lahbib Brown) thanks to their nephew (Christopher Hendry) who is my partner.
'Once I heard about the amazing work that they do and had a very emotional visit to Eilidh's Home, I knew that I had to choose them.'
Eilidh Brown was 14 when she collapsed on a school trip in February 2009.
A scan showed that she had a tumour the size of a melon which was quickly removed along with her left ovary.
Further tests showed that the tumour was malignant and that Eilidh also had a form of Turner's syndrome, a chromosomal disorder that occurs in one of 2000 girls and likely made her predisposed to germ cell cancer in her ovaries.
Eilidh sadly lost her 14 month battle with cancer on March 25, 2010, just nine days short of her 16th birthday.
The effects of the cancer had a devastating impact on Eilidh and her family.
They agreed that whatever the outcome would be, they wanted to somehow help others and ensure that Eilidh's legacy would continue and so the EIlidh Brown Memorial Fund was created.
Eilidh's Home was built in the summer of 2022 at Thornhill and welcomed their first family in October of that year. The house acts as a sanctuary for young people and their families who are currently facing, have faced or have sadly lost a child to cancer.
'From stories that all of her family have shared with me, Eilidh was extremely brave, always had a smile on her face and inspired everyone who she came into contact with,' said Caitlin.
She added: 'She was an extraordinary, loving, faithful girl who always thought of everyone else before herself.'
Caitlin's sister Megan Adams flew up from London for the weekend to ensure that she could support with her 'amazing singing' and also help their dad William Adams, who MC for the event and bingo caller for 'Billy's Boogie Bingo'.
'My mum Cheryl Adams and my partner Christopher helped me with all of the 'behind the scenes',' said Caitlin, 'ensuring that the night went as smoothly as possible.
'We are all ecstatic with the amount that we managed to raise for this amazing charity and will continue to support and raise as much awareness as we can.
'We had numerous games on the night, Irish Bingo, Heads or Tails and our take on Boogie Bingo.
'There was also an amazing raffle table that some local business donated to, such as: Stirling Distillery; Nooch Bar & Kitches; Mateos Cafe; Allure Make up by Tracey Hunter; and The Flower Girls - Grangeburn.'
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