Cancer fight couple to hold Big Burns Ball
A couple who used to live in east Perthshire have set their sights on raising thousands of pounds for charity, despite the husband still receiving life-saving treatment.
Matthew and Hayley Smith are organising a fundraising ball to be held next month, with generous support from friends helping to get them through their ordeal.
Just months ago the couple – who have only been married a year – were facing one of the biggest challenges in their lives as Matthew (28) suddenly fell seriously ill.
It was discovered he had a “massive” tumour in his brain, the effects of which became dramatically apparent within hours.
Reeling from the news and emergency life-saving surgery, the grateful couple are now vying to be charity champions for the Brain Tumour Charity and have come up with the idea of a Big Burns Ball which will take place at the end of January.
Matthew, who is still having chemotherapy, and Hayley (26) have given up work in the meantime as they focus on getting Matthew better – as well as organising their charity do.
Matthew said: “It (the tumour) was massive. They reckon it was level three, the one before cancerous, possibly for years and years, and then it erupted into a level four when everything happened that night.”
Matthew developed a rash on his neck and shoulder and, according to Hayley, wasn’t making any sense, so she called NHS 24 who immediately sent an ambulance to the couple’s new home.
It was then that a CT scan revealed a tumour in his brain and Matthew was operated on by an expert neurosurgeon.
Thankfully, Matthew was not seriously affected by surgery and is now undergoing chemotherapy in an effort to stop active cancerous cells spreading.
And with lots of support from several businesses, the couple are organising the Big Burns Ball at Fingask Castle on January 28.
Hayley said: “I really wanted to do a fundraiser, but I’m not one of those people who does a marathon.”
She added: ““Our friend’s dad is the events manager at Fingask Castle.
“I contacted them asking how much it would be to throw a party - we’d been there the year before last for the Blairgowrie Rugby Club Dinner Dance.
“I asked about dates in January or February and they said ‘we’ll charge you £1 plus VAT’. “I was overcome by their kindness. “They also said ‘Why don’t you have it on January 28 and have it as a Burns Supper too?’ It really all came from them.”
The couple have been further backed by local bus company Smith and Sons, which is offering free transport from Perth and Blairgowrie to Fingask Castle on the night.
Gleneagles Hotel has offered an overnight stay as a raffle prize, while the Scottish Liqueur Centre - where the couple met when they were both employed there - has provided complimentary drinks.
Hayley says the event is the least they can do for the charity, who offer support, and conduct important research.
More than 10,600 people are diagnosed each year with a primary brain tumour – 29 people every day - and almost 5,000 people lose their lives to a brain tumour each year.
All proceeds from The Big Burns Ball will go towards the charity,
For tickets and information, visit thebigburnsball.wixsite.com/ thebigburnsball.