Charity ball will help raise funds for research into Crohn’s disease
A brave Cambuslang boy has helped organise a charity night to raise cash for research into Crohn’s disease.
Aidan McArthur (10) was diagnosed with the condition last November.
But the youngster, who stays in Silverbanks Court, hasn’t let it get his spirits down, and a charity ball will be held at Fratelli’s in Cambuslang on Saturday, May 9.
Mum Donna, who works at Marion Rooney’s hairdresser in Cambuslang Main Street, is hoping money raised on the night can go towards ongoing research at Yorkhill Children’s hospital into the disease.
Hallside Primary pupil Aidan is one of a number of youngsters currently taking part in a study on Crohn’s and colitis at Yorkhill, that’s aiming to find a cure.
He was diagnosed with the illness last year after being ill for several months. Donna said: “It was a shock. “He’d been ill for 10 months and eventually they found out it was Crohn’s disease.
“It is becoming more common in kids and younger people, and the tests he’s doing just now they’re hoping to find a cure.
“Because he’s so young he’s just taken it all in his stride.
“He’s been really brave - there are days when he’s really ill but he just gets on with it.
“I know there’s a lot of kids worse off than my Aidan, but it can be terrible some days and he just keeps going.
“He lost over a stone before he was diagnosed and he was bleeding all the time, but he is doing a lot better now.”
Crohn’s disease is a long- term condition that causes inflammation of the lining of the digestive system.
It can cause fatigue, weight loss and diarrhoea, among other issues.
There are currently at least 115,000 people living with the condition in the UK.
Donna believes the tests Aidan is undergoing could help find a cure for the condition.
She said: “People sometimes put down Crohn’s as being ’only Crohn’s’ but it can really have some terrible effects.
“When Aidan was diagnosed he was having to go on a liquid diet of four milkshakes a day.
“There’s a lot of pain and tiredness, and he can get chronic fatigue too.
“As part of the tests they’re going to follow him for two years, looking at urine samples and diet sheets - it could really help kids in the future and he wants to be part of that, that’s why he wanted to do the fundraiser.”
The Fratelli’s fundraiser promises to be a lively night, with several things planned.
Donna added: “It’s going to be a charity ball.
“We’ll try and get a few footballers there, people from River City and a couple of others.
“There’ll be raffles with some really good prizes, some cabaret, things like that - there’ll be a few entertainers there. “
Tickets for the bash are currently on-sale, priced at £20.
They can be bought from Marion Rooney’s hairdresser in the Main Street.
If anyone can’t make the night but still wants to make a donation to the worthy cause, then Donna has a Just Giving page set up.
It’s at www.justgiving.com/DonnaMcArthur