Callum and friends are to stand United Against Cancer
A Southend man diagnosed with terminal cancer earlier this year has organised a massive day-long community event to help raise funds and awareness for four vital charities.
Callum Semple’s cancer charity event is being held at MACC, Machrihanish, on Saturday October 26 and will kick-off at 2pm with a bed race in which adult and junior teams of six will race their beds over 450m and 320m tracks in a bid to win fabulous prizes.
This will be followed by a fun-filled day and evening which will include tug-o-war, charity stalls, children’s entertainment, food and drink, live music and an amazing grand raffle and whisky auction.
Callum, who is still working in his role as an independent financial adviser as well as looking after his farm, is determined not to let his condition drag him down and is urging people of all ages to join him on the day to stand United Against Cancer.
‘I was devastated when I was told that my cancer was inoperable and that there was no cure,’ said Callum, who was diagnosed with having small cell lung cancer on May 3 this year.
‘My prognosis isn’t good – I could have anywhere between three months and five years to live but I’m feeling fine right now and want to do as much as I can with my family and to raise some much-needed money for these crucial charities.’
The charities Callum and his friends are raising money for are Marie Curie, Macmillan Cancer Support, the Beatson Cancer Charity and Maggie’s Centres.
‘The work that they, and their superb volunteers, do on a daily basis makes the exhausting and difficult process that patients and their families go through a little less daunting and helps them feel so much more supported,’ he added.
Callum has already had four rounds of chemotherapy and five of radiotherapy without suffering many of the abject side-effects that some other cancer patients do.
‘I am lucky I have still managed to maintain a reasonably normal lifestyle through this process and while that is the case I want to carry on doing that and help others who are not as fortunate,’ said the father of five and grandfather of four.
‘I do get a bit teary on occasions but that hasn’t happened for a while and I firmly believe that setting targets like birthdays, Christmases, weddings, and goals and keeping myself busy is helping. I even manage to forget about the cancer at times.’
Along with his friends, including Davie MacPherson, Chrissie Angus and Graeme Harvey, Callum has organised the cancer charity event which he hopes will be a ‘funfilled day’ before people dance the night away to wonderful music provided by Ceilidh’s Homet, The Democrats, 5 Strings, Kintyre Schools Pipe Band, Sound City Disco, MOKFest headliners Heron Valley plus many more.
Tickets are available from the Courier Centre, Jim Martin Supplies and Keeping it Local.