Latest news with #ABearNamedButtony
Press and Journal
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Press and Journal
Grant to walk 18 miles as Hulk Hogan in memory of his beloved Ellon friend
Donning a long blond wig, a red bandana and a tight bright orange and red lycra suit to head off on the 18 mile Aberdeen Kiltwalk – you'd have to love someone very much to do that in their name. For Grant Meldrum though, it's nothing but a pleasure to do this for his much-loved late friend and colleague, Martin Leask. Martin, from Ellon, died of bowel cancer last year. He was only 41, a devoted husband of Isla and dad of Eden, now aged eight. Grant and his colleagues at Johnston Carmichael Wealth in Aberdeen wanted to do something in Martin's memory. As the company has been a sponsor of Kiltwalk for almost 10 years, it was the first thing that came to mind. Now 19 of Martin's colleagues have volunteered to take part in Kiltwalks and raise money for Martin's favourite charity, A Bear Named Buttony. The charity supports people who have a stoma bag, something of great personal importance to Martin during his cancer battle. As Martin was a huge wrestling fan, it seemed an obvious step to Grant to carry out the charity walk dressed as Hulk Hogan. Grant will participate in three Kiltwalks as Mr Hogan this year. He'll be joined in Aberdeen for the 18-mile Mighty Stride on June 1 by Eden, Martin's daughter, also dressed as the wrestling legend in tribute to her dad. 'He had a brilliant sense of humour – one of those guys you can't help but laugh when you're around him. He never had a bad word to say about anyone,' Grant said. 'Martin was loved by everybody at the company, and we wanted to do something for a charity that was important to him. 'Martin loved wrestling – it was his thing. 'I thought as a joke I'd dress up as a wrestler as it would have given him a smile and I'm going to dress as Hulk Hogan for the Aberdeen one. 'We've been speaking to Martin's family, and his daughter Eden is also hoping to dress as Hulk Hogan, so it will be a really special moment that we can both do this for Martin on the day.' Martin, who spent nearly a decade at Johnston Carmichael Wealth, rose to the role of technical specialist in the company's Aberdeen office. His close friendship with Grant saw the pair travel to Germany last summer to cheer on Scotland in Euro 2024. He was diagnosed with bowel cancer that August and sadly died two months later. He was a big supporter of A Bear Named Buttony for the help they provided him to adjust to life with a stoma after his diagnosis, so Grant and colleagues agreed that was the best cause to raise awareness for with their charity challenges. Grant said: 'Martin chose to support Bear Named Buttony as it was a local charity and he couldn't imagine how kids could cope with a stoma. 'This will very much be a team effort. 'We're just hoping to raise as much money as possible in honour of Martin, because of the kind of guy he was.' Grant has already completed the first of three walks – dressed as the Ultimate Warrior – in Glasgow in April, with colleagues Eva Crichton, Kate Thompson, Ryan Davidson and Clara Keen. In Aberdeen, 18 colleagues will walk in support of Bear Named Buttony. The dedicated team has already raised £3,300 taking part across the various challenges, and the final amount will be given to charity following the Edinburgh Kiltwalk on 14 September. Craig Hendry, managing director at Johnston Carmichael Wealth paid his own tribute to Martin. He said: 'Martin was a brilliant guy – extremely popular, very sociable and well liked across our team. 'I'm hugely proud of how we have rallied behind this cause and it's been great to see so many members sign up to take part in the Kiltwalk for a charity that meant so much to Martin. 'Grant will probably raise a few smiles with his outfits across the challenges.' You can donate to the fundraiser here.
Press and Journal
18-05-2025
- Health
- Press and Journal
The Ballater family whose cuddly bear helped thousands of children accept their stoma
Jenny Gow's daughter Eilidh was just three years old when she underwent life-changing surgery to have a stoma fitted. It was a frightening and confusing time; not just for the toddler, but for the entire family. 'We were told the stoma would make her well, and we jumped at that chance,' Jenny recalls. 'But the first stoma I ever saw was Eilidh's.' That moment — difficult as it was — planted a seed. And ten years ago, it bloomed into something extraordinary: A Bear Named Buttony. The Ballater-based charity, which Jenny launched with the help of local volunteers, now supports children and families across the UK who are living with stomas. Each child receives a cuddly bear, fitted with a replica pouch just like theirs, designed to make the experience less isolating. The idea for the bear came from a friend who sewed a button onto a soft toy as a stand-in for Eilidh's stoma. That original gift became Buttony. 'It just helped Eilidh feel seen,' Jenny says. 'And that's what the bears still do. They help kids see themselves. They say: this is normal, this is okay.' Now, a decade on, the charity is celebrating its tenth anniversary — and doing so with a very personal touch. A children's book, Nothing Can Stop Bear Now, is being launched this week, written by Jenny's youngest daughter Louise, a creative writing student at Stirling University. Louise grew up in the shadow of her older sister's condition. While Eilidh was in and out of hospital, Louise found it difficult to talk about the stoma. 'When Eilidh was younger, she wasn't comfortable with anyone knowing about the stoma,' Jenny says. 'There was so much stigma towards bowel disease generally. 'So Lou, as a younger sibling, found that difficult to not be able to talk about what was happening.' The new book tackles this head-on, showing how powerful it can be to talk about things openly. '[Louise] would never say she had anything other than a good childhood,' Jenny says, 'but it clearly wasn't easy. 'When there is a chronically ill child in the family, there was a lot of attention on one child and the other child having to make do.' Eilidh, now 27, still lives with a permanent stoma, which was the result of a congenital issue with bowel development. But she's also living a full life, studying film directing at Glasgow's Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and doing so, in her mum's words, 'with no fear'. 'She bungee jumps. She goes for everything. Maybe that's come from what she's already had to face,' Jenny says. Though the early years were tough, Eilidh is a proud supporter of the charity she inspired. 'She loves what it's become, that it helps other kids realise they're not alone.' And as for the stoma itself? 'She used to say it was prettier than a bumhole,' Jenny laughs. 'And at the end of the day, poo is poo — doesn't matter where it comes from.' Over the past decade, more than 11,000 Buttony Bears have been sent out to children across the country. But it's not just the children who benefit. 'We had a message recently from a granny,' Jenny says. 'She told us her grandson's bear helped the whole family adjust — his sister, his cousins, his aunts and uncles. That was really powerful to hear.' Another parent wrote to say their child, once too embarrassed to go to school, had changed their attitude after being given a colourful pouch cover: 'He's been showing everyone who wants to see it. Thank you for changing his outlook.' One message said simply: 'Buttony Bear is magical.' It's feedback like that which keeps the entirely volunteer-run charity going. Based in Ballater, the team includes around 45 people, five of whom have been with Jenny since day one. 'It's a labour of love,' she says. 'Some of us have no personal connection to stomas — they just see the difference it makes and want to be part of it.' Much of the stigma around stomas, Jenny believes, comes from lack of exposure and conversation. It is something she's determined to change. This year, the team will launch an educational pack for schools across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, designed to explain how the gastrointestinal system works and why some people need stomas. 'We want kids to grow up understanding it,' Jenny says. 'If you explain things early, they're not scary anymore.' She's also seen progress in wider society, not least from celebrities who've spoken publicly about their own stomas, including comedian Louie Green. 'Louie's an adult with a stoma,' says Jenny, 'but he was gifted a bear to help his children adapt and they found that really helpful.' As part of the 10th anniversary celebrations, Jenny and her team launched Louise's new book at the Darroch Learg Hotel in Ballater last month. As part of the celebrations, anyone can pay £5 to sponsor a book for a Buttony child. Among the special touches was a letter of support from Queen Camilla, a local Deeside resident who has long championed community causes. 'It's really special,' Jenny says. 'It means a lot to have that kind of support — but honestly, what matters most is the children.' And though Jenny is already looking to the next 10 years, she's able to look back with pride on what the Ballater charity has achieved. 'We never imagined it would grow like this,' Jenny says. 'We just knew we had to do something.'
Glasgow Times
10-05-2025
- Health
- Glasgow Times
Airdrie boy receives 7,000th 'stoma bear' after surgery
Joey Guild, from Airdrie, was constantly sick and losing weight due to a stomach and bowel problem. His illness led to a referral to the surgical team at the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow, where he underwent surgery to create a stoma. Read more: Hospice helped family create 'special memories' with late daughter After the surgery, Joey and his mum Ashley Guild, 31, were supported by paediatric gastrostomy and stoma clinical nurse specialist Louise Paterson and the stoma nursing team. Ashley said: "Joey's condition had become really debilitating. "We think the issues were there since birth but got particularly bad over the two years leading up to his operation. "Since he had the operation to get the stoma it has been like night and day - he's doing so well now. "The care he has received from Louise and the team at the RHC has been amazing, they've looked after Joey so well and now he's a happy healthy boy who is back at school full time and spending time with his friends. "He's got more energy and is able to be the character that he is." Last week, in recognition of his surgery, Joey received a special 'stoma bear' from the charity A Bear Named Buttony. Joey and Buttony bear (Image: Supplied) The charity was set up 10 years ago by Jenny Gow MBE after her daughter had surgery to create a stoma when she was just three years old. Buttony the bear, who also has a stoma, is designed to help young kids adapt to life with one and feel less alone. Joey's bear marked a huge milestone for the charity, being the 7,000th one given out. Ashley said: "Joey is delighted to receive his Buttony Bear. "It's even nicer to know it was started by a family who went through a similar experience to the one we are now." Jenny said: 'To gift bear number 7,000 is an exciting achievement for the charity and we are delighted that it is going to a child in Glasgow. 'This comes as we mark 10 years since the charity started, and we are so pleased that we have been able to help so many families and children during this period." Buttony Bear (Image: Supplied) Read more: Glasgow Airport team step up to raise over £2000 for good cause Louise, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde's paediatric gastrostomy and stoma clinical nurse specialist, said: "It's fantastic to see the huge benefits Joey has had since having his stoma surgery last year. 'Our service is privileged to have had close links with Jenny and the Buttony Bear charity over the past 10 years. 'Buttony helps bring a huge smile to our patients and families who are going through stoma surgery. 'We can't thank the charity enough for all the help and support they provide for our children and families and for positively promoting stoma awareness.'
Daily Record
06-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Record
Mum of brave Airdrie schoolboy adapting to life with a stoma praises his care and treatment
Ashley Guild, 31, told how eight-year-old Joey was constantly being sick and losing weight due to a problem with his stomach and bowel. The mum of a brave young Airdrie schoolboy who is adapting to life with a stoma after years of feeling unwell has praised the care and treatment he received. Ashley Guild, 31, told how eight-year-old Joey was constantly being sick and losing weight due to a problem with his stomach and bowel. The family had repeated trips to hospital that resulted in long stays and Joey had to take long periods off school because he was so unwell. Joey was referred to the surgical team in the Royal Hospital for Children (RHC), Glasgow. He required surgery to create a stoma and afterwards, paediatric gastrostomy and stoma clinical nurse specialist Louise Paterson and the stoma nursing team helped to support Joey and his mum with all aspects of his stoma care in hospital and once at home. Last week Joey received a special "stoma bear" from charity A Bear Named Buttony, which makes toys and storybooks to help young children feel less alone when they have to have a stoma. The Aberdeenshire-based charity was set up by Jenny Gow MBE 10 years ago after her own daughter Eilidh, now 28, had to have a surgery to create a stoma at the age of three. Buttony the Bear is designed to help children adapt to life with a stoma as it has one too. Joey's bear marked a special milestone for A Bear Named Buttony, with it being the 7000th one they have given out. Ashley said: 'Joey's condition had become really debilitating. We think the issues were there since birth but got particularly bad over the two years leading up to his operation. 'Joey was vomiting multiple times a week; he was never able to do a full week at school. "He was tired, thin, and continuing to lose weight because he was sick all the time, and he was having a lot of accidents. 'Since he had the operation to get the stoma it has been like night and day - he's doing so well now. 'The care he has received from Louise and the team at the RHC has been amazing. "They've looked after Joey so well and now he's a happy healthy boy who is back at school full time and spending time with his friends. 'He's got more energy and is able to be the character that he is. 'They've also really helped us adapt as a family and now we are pros when it comes to changing the stoma bag.' She added: 'Joey is delighted to receive his Buttony Bear. It's such a lovely idea and even nicer to know it was started by a family who went through a similar experience to the one we are now.' Around 20,000 people in Scotland have a stoma, which is an opening into the abdomen connected to the digestive or urinary system to allow waste to be diverted out of the body. In Joey's case, he is still undergoing tests to determine what caused him to need one. A Bear Named Buttony works to reduce the stigma around having a stoma and to make children feel more comfortable and reassured that they are not alone in having one. Jenny said: 'To gift bear number 7000 is an exciting achievement for the charity and we are delighted that it is going to a child in Airdrie. 'This comes as we mark 10 years since the charity started, and we are so pleased that we have been able to help so many families and children during this period. 'The charity is about so much more than 'just' a bear. We donate story books, colouring books, young adult packs and resources to support the work of stoma nurses.' Louise Paterson, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde's paediatric gastrostomy and stoma clinical nurse specialist, added: 'It's fantastic to see the huge benefits Joey has had since having his stoma surgery last year. 'Our service is privileged to have had close links with Jenny and the Buttony Bear charity over the past 10 years. 'We are hugely proud of Jenny and her family as they have first-hand experience of what other families are now going through, and founded the Buttony charity because of their experience. 'Buttony helps bring a huge smile to our patients and families who are going through stoma surgery. 'We can't thank the charity enough for all the help and support they provide for our children and families and for positively promoting stoma awareness.' *Don't miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here.
Glasgow Times
27-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
Glasgow Kiltwalk sees nearly 20,000 walkers raise £3 million
Scotland's Kiltwalk has smashed fundraising records, raising a remarkable £53 million for over 4000 Scottish charities over the past decade. The turnout was so huge that organisers extended the event to two days, making it the biggest Kiltwalk in history. (Image: Supplied) READ MORE: Top comedian spotted joining Glasgow's Kiltwalk Sir Tom Hunter, whose Hunter Foundation underwrites the Kiltwalk to ensure 100% of donations plus Gift Aid go directly to charities, celebrated the milestone: He said: 'In the 10 years that The Hunter Foundation has been involved with Kiltwalk, you and our foundation have raised an incredible £53 million for 4000 Scottish charities. 'I believe the magic of Kiltwalk is quite simple: in every community across Scotland, there are people who need a wee hand up, and there are good folks like you who get up in the morning and help them. "All the Kiltwalk does is simply connect you. There isn't a prouder Scotsman on the planet than me this morning.' READ MORE: Glasgow pop icon Lulu set to receive prestigious award Russell Borrie, leading sponsor Arnold Clark's CEO, praised the walkers for their impact across Scottish communities, while TV presenter Paddy McGuinness rallied the crowd at the starting line. Beneficiaries of Kiltwalk's fundraising power include Glasgow Children's Hospital Charity, which has received over £1.5 million from nearly 6500 walkers. Chief executive Kirsten Watson called Kiltwalk "a beacon of hope" for Scottish charities. (Image: Supplied) READ MORE: Huge techno festival set to release final tickets this week (Image: Supplied) Even smaller charities are feeling the difference, with A Bear Named Buttony raised over £11,000, helping 200 more children living with stomas. This year, walkers will also support Sir Chris Hoy's Tour de Four campaign, raising funds for five cancer charities following the Olympian's stage four prostate cancer diagnosis. To join or learn more, visit
