Latest news with #Eilidh
Daily Record
a day ago
- Health
- Daily Record
Former detective to complete epic 2,500 mile charity cycle across Europe and Africa in memory of schoolgirl
Johnny Dreczkowski, a retired Detective Inspector who worked with the Head of Counter Terrorism and Covert Specialist Training, is set to arrive in the Moroccan city of Marrakesh tomorrow (Thursday) after tackling some of Europe and Africa's toughest terrain. A retired anti-terrorism detective is nearing the end of a gruelling 2,500-mile charity cycle ride to Morocco in memory of a tragic Scottish schoolgirl. Johnny Dreczkowski, a former Detective Inspector who worked alongside the Head of Counter Terrorism and Covert Specialist Training, is due to reach Marrakesh tomorrow (Thursday), having traversed some of Europe and Africa's most challenging landscapes. The epic journey was undertaken by Johnny to raise much-needed funds for a respite home established in memory of a Scottish teenager. Setting off from the historic Stirling Castle at the beginning of May, Johnny has cycled solo and unsupported through seven countries, across two continents, crossing three different time zones – all within just 34 days. His efforts are aimed at raising vital funds for the Eilidh Brown Memorial Fund respite home, located in Thornhill, Stirling. Johnny, who resides not far from the home, in Bridge of Allan, has so far navigated his way through Scotland, England, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Spain, and finally Morocco. The respite home, nestled in the Stirlingshire countryside, holds a special significance for Johnny. His wife, Ally Croal, was the architect who collaborated closely with Eilidh's family to turn the dream of the respite home into reality. Eilidh, a young girl from Stirling, lost her fight against a rare germ cell cancer on March 25, 2010, just nine days before her 16th birthday. During her battle with the rare disease, Eilidh and her family, from St Ninians, spent quality time together at the Calum's Cabin respite home on the Isle of Bute. Eilidh's final wish was for a sanctuary to be built closer to home, where families grappling with the fear and uncertainty of childhood cancer could find solace. After over a decade of tireless fundraising and dedication from her family, the respite home finally came to fruition in 2023, offering much-needed support to families during their darkest hours. However, to keep the home operational, it requires a minimum of £50,000 annually. Johnny is hopeful that his solo ride will not only raise awareness but also contribute significantly towards this amount. Speaking with the Stirling Observer before embarking on his remarkable journey, Johnny explained: "Why am I doing this? Because the Eilidh Brown Respite Home provides much-needed support and a safe haven for families dealing with the unimaginable. "They offer a space of comfort and care, and I want to help ensure that with annual costs of around £50,000, they can continue their unbelievable work. "But I can't do it alone – I need your help! By sponsoring my ride, you'll be directly supporting the Eilidh Brown Respite Home and the incredible families they assist. "Every mile I ride will be powered by your generosity and our belief in this cause. "Your kindness and teamwork built this, let's keep it going, help me please." Johnny has taken on the entire cost of his ride, ensuring that every single penny raised from each pedal stroke goes directly towards the home. With the close family ties to the respite home, Johnny has been no stranger to massive fundraising efforts. In May 2021, he cycled an impressive 875-miles from Land's End to John O'Groats, all in aid of the Eilidh Brown Memorial Fund. His other feats include completing the West Highland Way, conquering the North Coast 500, undertaking the Three Peaks Challenge, participating in the Cateran Yomp 24-hour Challenge and running the London Marathon. In May 2023, he embarked on a solo cycling journey spanning 1,400-miles, from Stirling Castle to the Colosseum. in Rome, to raise funds for the respite home. Just last year, he managed to cycle around the entirety of the UK and Ireland in a mere seven days. Over time, his tireless efforts have helped amass more than £100,000 for charity, thanks to the unwavering support of friends, family, and the local community. This year alone, his marathon endeavour has already raised a staggering sum exceeding £27,000. Upon his return to Scotland, Johnny plans to host a 'Rock to Morocco Music Festival' as a celebration of these efforts and to generate additional funds. The event is scheduled to take place at The Meadowpark Kitchen and Bar on Saturday, June 14, with tickets available for purchase on Eventbrite for £20. All proceeds will go towards The Eilidh Brown Respite Home. To contribute towards Johnny's 'Rock to Morocco', click here.
Daily Record
21-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Record
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.'
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.'
The National
11-05-2025
- The National
Cycling group setting wheels in motion for women in Scotland
Women On Wheels' Tuesday begins with a morning session for beginners, where riders navigate cones and obstacles, gaining one-to-one advice on how to improve their cycling skills. In the afternoon, another session allows more confident riders to set out on a gentle ride around the surrounding area, through parks or woodland areas, with hills or more challenging terrain. The women attending these sessions are New Scots who have arrived in Scotland from countries including Iran, Nigeria, Tanzania and Ukraine. Some of the women are experiencing cycling as a new hobby, and for others, they are trying to rebuild their lives and navigate an unfamiliar city, looking for connections and routine. The purpose of the sessions is not only to improve riders' skills, but to give the women a better understanding of their local area, improving their confidence to navigate Glasgow. The sessions often cover bike rides in Queen's Park or Kelvingrove, and recently helped one woman build the confidence to cycle from Maryhill all the way to the southside. For some, cultural and religious rules have prevented women from learning to cycle in their home country. Soraya, a young woman from Tanzania, explained how she had cycled as a child before being forced to give it up due to restrictions that prevented women from cycling. She said: 'In my country, as a teenager I had to stop cycling. It is especially difficult as a Muslim and while wearing a headscarf.' Since attending the sessions in Glasgow, she has seen women of different faiths and nationalities take up the activity and says 'cycling now makes me feel free'. Eilidh has run multiple riding sessions with refugees across different charities in Glasgow for almost a decade. She has successfully brought together women from across groups such as Sunny Cycles and Bikes for Refugees, to a space where women are sure to feel welcomed and comfortable. As with many grassroots initiatives, she has hopped from project to project, supporting people until funding has run out. READ MORE: Doctor who grew up in Gaza gives 'emotional' speech at Highlands pro-Palestine march Her informal WhatsApp group chat ''Cycling Sisters' is part of the success of the sessions. This group brings together women from different charities, ensuring that women are never left behind if the funding for projects runs out. Rides and sessions are shared here, as well as photographs and funny videos. Most of the women have heard about the sessions through word of mouth. For many, it is not just a cycling group but a support network, which has allowed them to gain access to more support services in Scotland or even to hear about volunteering and work opportunities. As asylum seekers are not allowed to work, many women are keen to find volunteering jobs that fit around their ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) courses, a college programme that helps refugees to learn English. Women On Wheels helps to put women in contact with other groups and on the most recent Tuesday ride, the session stopped at Urban Roots, a community-led gardening project, where one woman was introduced to volunteering opportunities. The women feel that cycling is not only beneficial for their physical health, but for their mental health and sense of belonging. Edith, from Nigeria, is one of dozens of women who has taken part in the cycling sessions and feels an increased sense of community and friendship since joining. Edith was introduced to Eilidh when she was still living in hotel accommodation in Glasgow and describes the sessions as giving her confidence and happiness in an extremely challenging time. Women On Wheels works closely with the Scottish Refugee Council and will be hosting an event for Refugee Festival Scotland, taking place from June 13-22. Women from across different refugee sessions will be invited to a dinner at the Milk Cafe where they can share delicious food, in keeping with their cultures. For many, hotel food has been unfamiliar and poor, with little opportunity to cook and eat their preferred dishes. In a time of polarised political discourse surrounding refugees and displaced people, Women On Wheels and its refugee sessions are a quiet and powerful network, whose amazing work has mostly gone unnoticed. For the women who take part, these sessions are more than a bike ride. They are a space to grow in confidence, build community and friends and gain a sense of freedom and knowledge about the local area.
Edinburgh Live
08-05-2025
- Business
- Edinburgh Live
Enterprising Edinburgh bartender launches app to 'bring fun back' to pubs
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info A former bartender who felt pubs were becoming a 'sad place' following the pandemic has launched an app to 'inject the fun' back in. Eilidh Mutch, 25, spent years working behind bars in the capital. After Covid, she set out on enticing punters back into pubs after the sector took a hit. She's now launched an app, Tavora, that offers bar goers a chance to win a prize with every order. Elidih, from Newington, managed to secure funding and trial it at boozers across the city. She said: "I loved working in hospitality, but it was just a sad place to work post-Covid because nobody was going out. 'I wanted to do something to inject fun back into going to the pub and entice people to get back to their favourite locals. I managed to secure funding to create the initial Spin the Wheel type game and trialled it across a few pubs in Edinburgh. Sign up for Edinburgh Live newsletters for more headlines straight to your inbox "It became an instant hit and it's just spiralled from there. People became competitive with their friends on who'd win the most prizes, so it added another dimension to the night out." Eilidh graduated from Dundee University in 2021 with a business degree, and set up the business later that same year. Despite having no tech background, she managed to attract funding for the app. Now a team of four, the business was assisted with funding from Scottish EDGE - a business funding competition. Eilidh, speaking ahead of the Scottish EDGE finals this Friday 9 May, said: "We had big brands getting in touch to say they had no market data to track behaviour at their events. "We create a specific game for each company we work with, telling their brand story for the customer through the game. We can now provide them with data insights on the age demographic of customers. "It works great in the UK and the dream in the future would be to make it a success across the world." Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sentstraight to your messages. Calum Purdie, Technology and Life Sciences Ecosystem Manager at Johnston Carmichael, helps to judge EDGE competitors' pitches, and supports winners with business advice. Calum said: "Eilidh has an amazing back story, and it's been great to see how Tavora has gone from strength to strength in recent years, working with an incredible array of established brands. "Johnston Carmichael and Scottish EDGE are both pleased to have played a small part in supporting the business reach this stage, and we'd like to wish the very best of luck to everyone taking part in this year's finals."
