Tag: charity fundraising

Family take on Edinburgh Kiltwalk in young mum’s memory to raise vital funds for Bowel Cancer UK

The family of a young Scottish mum who lost her life to bowel cancer earlier this year is taking on the Edinburgh Kiltwalk this weekend to raise vital funds for Bowel Cancer UK, the UK’s leading bowel cancer charity.

Various members of Abigail Millar’s close family will be taking on the Edinburgh Kiltwalk this Sunday 13th September after she sadly died from bowel cancer on 12th May this year aged just 41, leaving behind her husband Ross Millar and their two young children Gregor and Katie.

All funds raised by the team, named Abigail’s Star Team, will go towards supporting Bowel Cancer UK’s work to save lives and improve the quality of life of everyone affected by bowel cancer.       

At the time of writing, the team has raised over £3,000 for the charity, with donations still streaming in.

“Abigail was a much-loved member of our family whose kindness, warmth, and spirit touched everyone who knew her,” Abigail’s cousin, Fiona Durkin said on the family’s JustGiving page.

“Her loss has left a huge gap in our lives, and she is remembered every day with love and affection.

“By taking on this sponsored walk, we hope to honour Abigail’s memory, raise awareness of bowel cancer, and support the vital work being done to improve research, treatment, and early diagnosis.”

Abigail, who was originally from Corstorphine in Edinburgh before settling in Botley, Hampshire with her husband and children, first visited her GP with abdominal pain in October 2024, thinking there was a problem with her ovaries.

She gave a stool sample, was referred for a colonoscopy and was subsequently diagnosed with bowel cancer on 6th December 2024.

She underwent surgery in January 2025 where part of her colon was removed and was relieved not to need a stoma. She and her family thought she was through the worst, particularly with doctors thinking that they had managed to catch her cancer early enough. 

“Following surgery Abigail’s cancer staging results came through and that is when the bombshell hit us,” Abigail’s husband Ross said. “She was told that she had stage 3 cancer and needed to have some preventative chemotherapy.”

Three months into chemotherapy, doctors told Abigail that her cancer had spread due to a genetic mutation, it was aggressive and couldn’t be cured but could be managed.

In March 2026, Abigail and her family were told that her cancer was terminal. She enjoyed the time she had left with her family before passing away at home with them by her side on 12th May 2026.

Abigail’s family are now determined to continue her legacy of fundraising for bowel cancer. Abigail’s husband Ross is now in training to complete a series of fundraising events to support Bowel Cancer UK. 

Abigail and Ross’s son has always wanted to be a doctor, and this sad experience has solidified his focus on this goal, with the ultimate aim of helping other people in similar situations.

“Abigail and I spent 20 years of our lives together – she had such a zest for life,” Ross said. “She was bright, funny, fiercely loyal, and devoted to her family. She was a beautiful soul and created so many great moments in life for all those fortunate enough to be around her.

“It was one of Abigail’s wishes to raise awareness of bowel cancer, particularly because cases are rising in younger people like her.

“Sadly, she can’t do that now, but I can, our children can, and our family can. If her story helps someone get an early diagnosis or saves a life, her message will have done what it needs to do.”

Jenny Poulter, Events Fundraising Manager for Bowel Cancer UK, said: “We’re incredibly grateful to Abigail’s family for sharing her story with us and selecting Bowel Cancer UK as their chosen charity as they take on the Edinburgh Kiltwalk in her memory.

“Every 11 minutes someone is diagnosed with bowel cancer, making it the UK’s fourth most common cancer. The money raised by Abigail’s Star Team will help us continue to raise awareness of the disease and its symptoms, provide expert information and support to patients and their families, fund vital research, and campaign for early diagnosis and access to best treatment and care.

“We hope that Ross and the rest of Abigail’s family know the difference that their support will make, and we wish them all the best for their walk. We’re sure that Abigail would be immensely proud of their efforts.”

You can support Abigail’s Star Team and donate to Bowel Cancer UK by visiting Fiona’s JustGiving page: https://www.justgiving.com/page/abigailsstarteam

Feeling inspired? Take on your own fundraising challenge for Bowel Cancer UK: https://www.bowelcanceruk.org.uk/support-us/fundraise/

North Edinburgh young people invite the community to their charity football match

Spartans Alternative School are organising a charity event we for the local community:

On Friday 2nd October 2026, we are hosting a charity football match at Spartans, with students taking on staff, and we would love to see families, young people and community groups from across North Edinburgh come along and support us.

⚽ YOUNG PEOPLE’S CHARITY FOOTBALL MATCH

Friday 2nd October 2026
Gates open: 1:00pm
Kick-off: 1:30pm
Entry: £5 per person

The event is raising money for Therapet, a charity that is particularly important to us.

We have four therapy dogs who regularly support young people at the Alternative School, and we get so much from the time we spend with them.

They provide companionship, support and positive experiences for many of us, so this year we wanted to give something back to a service that has given so much to us.

The afternoon will be family-friendly, with lots happening alongside the football:

🧁 Bake sale
🎟️ Raffle
🎉 Tombola
🍦 Ice cream
🐶 Therapy dogs
🎤 Half-time performer – to be announced
⚽ Students vs Staff football match
…and much more!

All money raised will go to Therapet.

What makes this event particularly special is that it has been planned, organised and will be delivered by us — the young people.

For the past six years, as part of our Art sessions and social enterprise work, we have organised a wide range of events, including art exhibitions at the Out of the Blue Drill Hall, art pop-up shops, DJ events and previous charity football matches.

Through these events, we have raised approximately £8,000 for a variety of charities and community causes.

With support from our Art Teacher, we take responsibility for the different parts of our projects — from coming up with ideas and planning, to promotion, fundraising, activities and helping to run the events themselves.

This year, we really want to open the event up to our local community and invite the people of North Edinburgh to come along, have some fun and get behind the young people.

For us, this isn’t just about football or fundraising. It’s about young people coming together, developing skills, creating something positive and finding ways to give something back to the community that we are part of.

You can follow our social enterprise journey and see some of the work we have been doing through our Art Offenders Instagram page:

https://www.instagram.com/theartoffenders

We hope you might be able to help us spread the word and encourage people from across North Edinburgh to come along on 2nd October.

Thank you for taking the time to read about our project and for supporting local community stories and initiatives.

We hope to see you there!

Best wishes,

The Young People of Spartans Alternative School

Local Tesco Express store managers are going the extra mile for St Columba’s hospice

  • Tesco Express store managers throughout Edinburgh will be taking part in the Kiltwalk
  • Any funds raised will go to St Columba’s Hospice
  • Funds will help St Columba’s staff continue delivering end of life care

Managers from several Tesco Express stores in Edinburgh will walk more than 11 miles to raise money for St Columba’s Hospice at this year’s Edinburgh Kiltwalk.

They will be lacing up their walking boots and donning kilts to take on the route from Musselburgh, through the capital, to the finish line at Murrayfield on Sunday 13 September.

Since 2016, the Kiltwalk has brought together more than 216,000 people and raised millions of pounds for good causes across the country.

All money raised by the group will be donated to St Columba’s Hospice, helping it continue to provide important end-of-life care to people in and around Edinburgh, while also supporting their families.

Jonny Hunter, Store Manager at Tesco Haymarket Express, said: “The team at St Columba’s Hospice are fantastic, so we are more than happy to help in any way we can.

“I’m extremely proud of my fellow store managers for going the extra mile to raise funds for a vital service that supports so many people in the local area.”

Amanda Southey, Partnerships Fundraiser at St Columba’s Hospice Care, said: “A huge thank you to the managers at Tesco for their wonderful fundraising and support.

“It’s thanks to the generosity of local businesses and our community that we can continue to be there for patients and families across Edinburgh and the Lothians, providing care, compassion and support when it matters most.

“We’re incredibly grateful for everything they’ve done for us.”

Donations can be made to Jonny and his team’s fundraising campaign online at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/jonathanhunter-1785823649377.

For more information on St Columba’s, visit https://stcolumbashospice.org.uk/.

Child Bereavement UK challenges community to take on Edinburgh Kiltwalk

Could You Take on A Kiltwalk for Bereaved Families This September?

  • Bereavement charity Child Bereavement UK is calling on people to take part in the Dundee Kiltwalk
  • Participants can raise as much as they like with no minimum sponsorship 

Child Bereavement UK, the largest provider of grief support for when a child grieves or when a child dies, is calling on the local community in Edinburgh to take part in a sponsored Kiltwalk on Sunday, September 13th. 

The charity is mustering well-travelled trekkers or fledgling footsloggers to don their kilts and take part in the Kiltwalk in Dundee to raise awareness and money for the support available to bereaved children and parents in Scotland.  

Child Bereavement UK is the largest provider of bereavement support to grieving young people and parents bereaved of a baby or child, supporting families throughout the UK when a child grieves or when a child dies. 

The Kiltwalk in Edinburgh offers participants the chance to enjoy beautiful city scenery while raising money for Child Bereavement UK. Walkers can choose between three challenge route distances, a 4.3-mile Wee Wander route, a 11.2 Big Stroll or a 20-mile Mighty Stride walk, making the event suitable for families and people of different ages and fitness levels. 

Participants can take part with friends, family, or on their own, and there is no minimum fundraising target. Everyone who takes part receives a range of benefits, including a walker’s guide, a Kiltwalk finisher’s medal, snacks and refreshments, and plenty of entertainment and encouragement along the route. 

The charity also provides a welcome email, fundraising pack, branded top, and support from a dedicated fundraising team to help participants make the most of their experience.

Kerry Waite, Events and Mass Participation Manager at Child Bereavement UK, comments, “The Edinburgh Kiltwalk is one of the most exciting events we have in our calendar, taking participants on an incredible journey with lovely scenery.

 “So many people who come and get involved are themselves bereaved, either as young people or as bereaved parents, and they take this opportunity to walk in memory of their important person and in recognition of the tremendous steps through grief they have already undertaken. 

“We hope that this important event will not only raise vital funds to support these people and families and also raise awareness of bereavement in childhood and for parents.”

The registration fee is nominal and starts from £7 for children and up to £20 for adults, with participants encouraged to raise as much as they can for the charity.

If you would like to summon your clan and take part in the Dundee Kiltwalk then please visit the dedicated page on the Child Bereavement UK website. There is also another Kiltwalk taking part in Edinburgh on the 13th of September that is also open for registration. 

Child Bereavement UK helps families to rebuild their lives when a child grieves or when a child dies. We offer free, UK-wide, accessible online grief support to children and young people (up to 25) and parents bereaved of a baby or child. 

Our trained bereavement specialists are available to speak with Monday to Friday, 8am–8pm (excluding bank holidays) by phone, email, text and WhatsApp, or via our website – childbereavementuk.org

Edinburgh cancer charity aims to top £1m at Seven Hills Challenge event

A local cancer charity which harnesses the support of the Edinburgh business community is seeking to surpass the one-million-pound mark at an annual fund-raising event being staged in the capital later this summer.

Business Beats Cancer Edinburgh has raised over £900,000 for vital life-saving cancer research since its inception in 2019. The charity is now inviting people to take part in its sponsored walk of the city’s Seven Hills on 28 August where it hopes to take its level of fund-raising into seven figures.

The Seven Hills Challenge is a 14-mile charity walk covering the seven iconic peaks surrounding Edinburgh —Arthur’s Seat, Castle Rock, Calton Hill, Corstorphine Hill, Craiglockhart Hill, Braid Hill, and Blackford Hill. The event is one of the major annual fundraisers championed by Business Beats Cancer Edinburgh in support of Cancer Research UK.

Participants raise money to fund vital clinical trials and scientific research to fight cancer. Individuals, teams, and corporate groups are invited to get involved in the Challenge by signing up directly through the official Cancer Research UK website.

Among those who will be walking the Seven Hills will be Andrew Walker and his wife Debby from Bo’ness. Their daughter Anna died in March 2025, aged 25, after battling a rare cancer of the adrenal gland. Last year’s event, which attracted more than 200 people, raising over £60,000 for locally-focused cancer research, was dedicated to her memory.

Andrew said: “The 2025 challenge was completed in memory of Anna who herself took part in the event in 2023. It was an amazing day, emotionally and physically, when so many people came together to help make a difference – we felt Anna with us every mile of the route.

“We want to continue to support Cancer Research inspired by Anna so that others may benefit from future improvements in our understanding of the cause of cancer and breakthroughs in preventative treatment. Every step forward across the Seven Hills is a step towards realising that ambition.”

Lou Kiddier, chair of Business Beats Cancer Edinburgh, said: “Business Beats Cancer Edinburgh is the UK leader in its fundraising efforts for cancer research and at this summer’s Seven Hills Challenge we aim to hit a new high by surpassing the £1m mark.

“To ensure we can achieve this ambitious target, we are calling on people across Edinburgh to come forward and take part in this event by signing up, either as an individual or part of a team.

“While it is a tough pursuit, the Seven Hills Challenge covers a beautiful route and, more importantly, it raises crucial funds that will help bring us closer to a world where everybody can live longer, better lives, free from the fear of cancer.”

More details about how to register for this year’s Seven Hills Challenge can be found here

Join Barnardo’s atop the world-famous Forth Bridge

‘We felt it was only right to get married in front of the bridge where we got engaged’

It is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that has brought joy to those seeking adventure and has raised nearly half-a-million pounds for Scotland’s leading children’s charity. And now, a precious few are once again able to stand atop the iconic Forth Bridge to help make childhoods across Scotland happier, healthier, and more hopeful.

Barnardo’s Scotland’s ‘Your View at the Forth Bridge’ event, run in conjunction with Network Rail and Balfour Beatty allows members of the public one of the most sought after and unique experiences in Scotland – namely the chance to ascend 361 feet up the historic bridge and enjoy an uninterrupted 360-degree panoramic view of the Edinburgh and Fife coastline.

One couple who have already enjoyed the Your View experience are Laura, 36, and Connor Robertson, 33, from Armadale, in West Lothian. The couple got engaged atop the Forth Bridge two years ago when Connor got down on one knee – much to Laura’s shock!

Laura said: “The proposal was a complete surprise! Connor didn’t even tell me that we were doing the bridge viewing until we arrived in the car park, so the whole day was a pleasant surprise from start to finish.

“Your View was one of the best things we’ve done together – getting to be up on top of the bridge and taking in some of the most amazing sights.

“I’d recommend it to anyone. The volunteers were amazing, from getting history about the bridge being built, to the friendly and helpful staff joining you as you make your way up in the hoist.

“It was a day we will never forget. Barnardo’s is an incredible charity and we’re over the moon that all of the money from tickets goes straight towards the great work that they do in Scotland.” 

The couple got married in South Queensferry on Saturday, 7 March this year… with a familiar sight in the background of some of their wedding photographs.

Laura adds: “We felt it was only right to get married in front of the Forth Bridge where we got engaged, so it really was a full-circle moment getting to tie the knot with our special place on view!

“And, to top it off, our little boy Noah, who is now three, was at the wedding too, and he had an absolute ball!”

Your View 2026 will take place from Friday, 18 September to Sunday, 20 September, with tickets on sale now.

To date, more than 7,000 visitors have experienced the event and there have been around a dozen marriage proposals on the vertiginous viewing platform.

Best of all, though, the event has raised more than £450,000 to fund the work of Barnardo’s Scotland. To find out more, or to book tickets for the event, please visit: 

www.eventbrite.com/cc/your-view-at-the-forth-bridge-2026-4846806.

Michele Janes, the Director of Barnardo’s Scotland, said: “As I step into my new role in Scotland, I’m struck by how the Your View event captures the very best of what Scotland offers: breathtaking beauty, a sense of possibility and experiences that stay with you long after you’ve come back down to earth.

“The view from the top of the Forth Bridge is a reminder of what can be achieved when ambition, engineering brilliance and community spirit come together.

“It’s a unique opportunity for people to see Scotland from a new perspective, connecting them to the scale of the possible, while supporting the potential of children and families across the country.”

Alan Ross, Network Rail Scotland’s Director of Engineering and Asset Management, added: added: “The Forth Bridge is one of Scotland’s most cherished and recognisable landmarks, and we’re proud to once again support an event that allows people to experience it in such a unique way.

“It’s incredibly rewarding to know that this special opportunity not only gives visitors a remarkable perspective of the bridge, but also helps raise vital funds for Barnardo’s Scotland and the important work they do with children and families.

“We’d also like to offer our congratulations to Laura and Connor. We’re delighted that the Forth Bridge continues to play such a meaningful role in their story.”

Colin Hardie, Construction Superintendent for Balfour Beatty, said: “At Balfour Beatty, we are committed to giving back to the communities we serve.

“The Your View event is one example of how we do just that, raising valuable funds to support children and families in Scotland. It has been an honour to work alongside Barnardo’s Scotland once again, to offer members of the public this memorable experience on one of the most iconic, unique and admired structures in the world – the Forth Bridge.”

Also featuring over the weekend will be the famous ‘Briggers’. The Briggers are a Forth Bridge research and presentation group of volunteers based in South Queensferry. Named after the bridge workers, the group was formed to identify the names of the 73 men and boys who died constructing the Forth Bridge, they provide details on the history of the bridge and the people involved in its construction.

For more information on this year’s Your View event, please visit: 

www.barnardos.org.uk/events/your-view-forth-bridge.

At Barnardo’s, our purpose is clear: Changing childhoods and changing lives, so that children, young people, and families are safe, happy, healthy, and hopeful. Last year, we worked with thousands of children across Scotland through more than 150 services and partnerships.

Across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, we provided essential support to 373,200 children, young people, parents and carers through more than 800 services and partnerships across the UK. This included 150-plus services in Scotland.

For more than 150 years, we’ve been here for the children and young people who need us most – bringing love, care and hope into their lives and giving them a place where they feel they belong.

To donate, volunteer or fundraise, please visit: 

www.barnardos.org.uk/get-involved/raise-money.

Scran Academy to receive £8,000 boost from Barratt and David Wilson Homes East Scotland Tough Mudder challenge

Housebuilder staff brave mud and obstacles to support young people into education and employment

Eleven members of staff from Barratt and David Wilson Homes East Scotland have raised £8,000 for Scran Academy, an Edinburgh catering social enterprise that supports school-aged young people facing poverty and trauma to engage in education and employment.  

The funds were raised through the team’s completion of the Tough Mudder obstacle course challenge, with parent company Barratt Redrow match funding the £4,000 raised on the day. 

The Tough Mudder team, drawn from Barratt and David Wilson Homes East Scotland and Oregon Timber Frame, a Selkirk-based timber manufacturer acquired by Barratt Redrow in 2022, took on the course, battling mud pits, physical obstacles and teamwork challenges across the course’s demanding terrain. 

Scran Academy is a youth-led catering social enterprise on a mission to help every young person, regardless of background or barrier, realise their full potential in learning, work and life. The organisation was selected as Barratt and David Wilson Homes East Scotland’s charity partner of the year for 2026/27. 

Yvonne Barrie, Regional Finance Managerfor Barratt and David Wilson Homes East Scotland said: “Taking on the Tough Mudder is never easy, but having colleagues alongside you makes all the difference.

“The team gave everything on the day and the spirit throughout was brilliant. Raising £8,000 for Scran Academy makes it all worthwhile.

“The work they do to support young people through food education is genuinely important, and we’re proud that our fundraising can play a part in that.” 

Through the match funding programme by the Barratt Redrow Foundation, every pound raised by the team on the day has been doubled, meaning Scran Academy will receive £8,000 to support its work helping young people across Edinburgh into education and employment. 

For further information about Barratt and David Wilson Homes visit:

 www.barratthomes.co.uk and www.dwh.co.uk. 

PY’s Sponsored Walk Postponed

FUNDRAISING EVENT RESCHEDULED FOR AUGUST

Hi everyone,

We wanted to share a quick update about our upcoming sponsored walk planned for 30th May.

Unfortunately we’ve had to make the difficult decision to postpone the event until August.

This is due to a couple of challenges we’ve faced recently. Our minibus has been badly vandalised and is currently out of action for the foreseeable future which has significantly impacted our plans. On top of that, we haven’t yet managed to raise enough funds to make the event as worthwhile as we’d hoped.

We’re really disappointed to delay, but we hope you understand that this is the right decision for now.

For those who have already kindly sponsored us, thank you so much for your support — it truly means a lot. If you have any questions about what this change means please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.

We’re still very much looking forward to completing the walk in August and continuing our fundraising efforts. 💙

Thank you for your understanding and ongoing support.

PYCP Team x

Woman living with aggressive brain cancer takes on 100km canoe challenge

A West Lothian woman living with aggressive brain cancer is taking on a 100km canoe challenge to help fund a cure.

Hannah King-Page, 43, from Broxburn, will paddle coast-to-coast through the Scottish Highlands along the Great Glen Canoe Trail from 7 to 11 May as part of a team of six to raise money for the charity Brain Tumour Research.

The challenge will see Hannah and her team wild camp along the route as they navigate canals, lochs and open water, including the vast expanse of Loch Ness.

Hannah, a former physiotherapist who was forced to retire due to ill health, was diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive and cancerous form of brain tumour, in 2020 after suffering a seizure at work.

More than five years on, she has outlived the 12-to-18-month prognosis that this tumour type carries. Her tumour remains stable, but she continues to live with the lasting effects of the disease.

Hannah said: “Taking on this challenge is about making the most of the time I have and doing something positive. It gives me purpose and a focus, while raising awareness of a disease that needs far more attention.

“I feel incredibly fortunate that things have remained stable for me, especially when I know so many others aren’t as lucky. But there’s also a sense of guilt that comes with that, because I’m very aware that other people I’ve met through the brain tumour community are facing progression or going through treatment again. It’s not success – it’s just that I’m still here, and I don’t take that for granted.

“Day-to-day life has changed completely since my diagnosis. I live with chronic fatigue, and there are times when it can completely wipe me out for no real reason. I also have some cognitive difficulties – I lose my words or struggle to process things as quickly as I used to.

“There are good days where I feel like I can take on anything, and then there are days where even simple things feel much harder. It’s about learning to listen to your body and adapting to a new normal.”

Hannah will be joined by a group of friends, coming together as ‘Paddles for Progress’ for the challenge, who she met while trekking 50km across the Sahara Desert last year.

Together they raised more than £90,000 for Brain Tumour Research.

The team includes Hariette Small, 46, a Welsh teacher living in Berkshire, who is taking part in memory of a close family friend who died from a brain tumour aged just eight; Hayley Firth, 48, and Amy Firth, 24, from Bedfordshire, who are fundraising in memory of their nephew and cousin, George Fox, who died aged 13; and Claire Cordiner, 57, from Edinburgh, whose family has been devastated by brain tumours, losing four loved ones to the disease.

Also taking part are Hannah’s cousin Sarah Martin, 55, and Gary Balkham, 62, both from Bristol, who share a close personal connection to her journey.

“Meeting the group in the Sahara was such a powerful experience,” Hannah said. “We all came together because of brain tumours, but what we built out there was something much deeper.

“We supported each other through a really tough challenge, and that created a bond that’s hard to explain unless you’ve been through it. We knew we wanted to do something together again, and this felt like the perfect opportunity.”

The group’s latest challenge will take them on a coast-to-coast journey through the Scottish Highlands along the Great Glen Canoe Trail, travelling from Banavie, near Fort William, to Clachnaharry, Inverness, on a demanding multi-day route that combines inland waterways with large open lochs.

Despite her experience with outdoor challenges, Hannah admits she will need to carefully manage her condition throughout the journey.

Hannah said: “For me, the biggest challenge will be managing my fatigue. Physically, I know I can push myself, but living with a brain tumour means I have to be honest about my limits.

“I’ve learned that I need to speak up if I’m struggling or need to slow down, and that’s something I’ll have to be really mindful of during the challenge. It’s about finding that balance between pushing myself and looking after my health.”

Brain tumours are indiscriminate; they can affect anyone at any age and there are more than 100 different types of primary brain tumour, making them notoriously difficult to diagnose and treat. Yet just 1% of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to brain tumours since records began in 2002.

Through her fundraising group, Hannah’s Kingdom, she has already helped raise more than £36,000 for Brain Tumour Research, funding 13 days of vital research into the disease. 

This includes work carried out at centres such as the Scottish Brain Tumour Research Centre of Excellence, a game-changing collaboration with Beatson Cancer Charity, focused on finding kinder treatments and, ultimately, a cure for glioblastoma – the same type of tumour Hannah is living with.

Hannah added: “Fundraising has become such an important part of my life since my diagnosis. I feel incredibly lucky to have the support of family and friends who have gone above and beyond to help raise money, whether that’s through events, challenges or donations. It’s amazing to know that what we’re doing is helping to fund research, but at the same time it highlights how much more is needed.

“We’ve all got a brain, yet brain tumours receive just 1% of the national spend on cancer research. Treatments for high-grade tumours like mine haven’t really changed in decades, and that’s something that needs urgent attention. While I’m still here and able, I want to keep raising awareness and using my voice to push for better outcomes for people diagnosed in the future.”

Ashley McWilliams, community development manager at Brain Tumour Research, said: “Hannah’s determination to take on such a demanding challenge while living with a brain tumour is incredibly inspiring and we are so grateful for her continued support.

“Her story highlights not only the resilience of those affected by this disease, but also the urgent need for greater investment in research. We have a whole team of scientists at the Scottish Brain Tumour Research Centre of Excellence dedicated to finding better outcomes for glioblastoma but we desperately need more funding.”

Brain Tumour Research funds sustainable research at dedicated centres in the UK. It also campaigns for the Government and larger cancer charities to invest more in research into brain tumours in order to speed up new treatments for patients and, ultimately, to find a cure.

The charity is the driving force behind the call for a national annual spend of £35 million in order to improve survival rates and patient outcomes in line with other cancers such as breast cancer and leukaemia.  

To support the “Paddle for Progress” team’s fundraising challenge, visit:

https://www.justgiving.com/team/100kcanoeacrossscotland

To read more on Hannah’s brain tumour journey, visit: 

https://braintumourresearch.org/blogs/in-hope/hannah-king-page

‘May the 4th be with you’: Edinburgh’s 2026 Capital Sci-Fi Con raises over £64,000 for CHAS

In a fitting tribute to Star Wars Day, Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS) has announced that this year’s Capital Sci-Fi Con raised more than £64,000 to support its vital work across the country.

Held annually at the Edinburgh Corn Exchange, the convention returned in February, welcoming sci-fi fans from across the UK for a weekend packed with celebrity appearances, cosplay, and immersive fan experiences.

This year’s star-studded line-up included Pirates of the Caribbean actor Kevin McNally, Game of Thrones star Murray McArthur, and Peggy — better known to fans as Dogpool, the beloved canine star of Deadpool & Wolverine.

Since its launch in 2016, Capital Sci-Fi Con has raised over £548,000 for CHAS. The event was founded by West Lothian volunteer fundraiser Keith Armour, whose passion and dedication have helped grow the convention into one of Scotland’s most successful fan-led fundraising events.

CHAS now leads the organisation of the convention, with Keith continuing to support in an advisory role alongside a dedicated committee of volunteers.

Laura Campbell, Head of Community Fundraising and Retail at CHAS, said: “On a day when fans across the world celebrate ‘May the 4th be with you’, we’re absolutely delighted to share that this year’s Capital Sci-Fi Con raised an incredible £64,232.53 in net profit.

“We’d like to thank everyone who bought tickets and came along to support the event. Every pound raised helps CHAS continue providing vital care and support to children with life-shortening conditions and their families across Scotland.”