‘It’ s our turn to give back to charities’

AFife couple whose toddler daughter underwent lifesaving cancer treatment are repaying the charities that helped them through their darkest hour.

Laura and Andrew Cairns were devastated when Isla was diagnosed with the rare bone cancer Ewing sarcoma when she was just 16 months old.

Isla endured chemotherapy and then proton radiation therapy in a hospital in the US.

Now, two and a half years on, Isla is still in remission and doing well.

But the Coaltown of Wemyss family have never forgotten the local charities, including Love Oliver and Jak’s Den, that supported them through her illness.

They were also helped by It’s Good 2 Give, which provides practical support to patients and families.

And they have now launched a new online platform called Patchwork to let the organisations promote themselves as they bid for vital funding.

Other charities have also signed up to the venture and it is beginning to grow.

“These charities did so much for us,” said Laura. “We’re helping them showcase their work.”

Software engineer Andrew created Patchwork in his spare time.

“He wanted to use his skills to benefit the third sector,” Laura said.

Laura described Isla’s cancer diagnosis as the scariest time of hers and Andrew’s lives.

And she said the support of charities was invaluable as the tot’s condition rapidly deteriorated.

As Isla, now 5, was moved to intensive care, the family was provided with accommodation near the hospital.

“It meant we could be by her side,” Laura said. “As charities heard of Isla’s struggle they did all they could to support us.”

The help included snacks to eat on the ward and fun activities for her and Leyton, now 8. They were given safe havens to visit while immunosuppressed and gifts for the children.

And financial support was provided as the couple took time off work. This helped them travel the 4,000 miles to Florida for Isla’s treatment.

“It all eased the burden,” Laura added. “Each charity helped us cope through our darkest days, but they were also helping many other families in our situation.

“It is now our time to give something back.”

Patchwork helps the organisations tell their stories on social media.

It also provides a simple way to embed content on the charities’ own websites.

Every month it puts the spotlight on one of the charities that have signed up – Fife-based Love Oliver features this month.

Andrew and Laura are giving their services free of charge to the charities.

“I’m in awe of the people who run these charities because most of them have suffered their own heartache and are then doing this for other people,” said Laura.

“It doesn’t bring in a big income but it’s growing.”

FAMILY: Eight-year-old Leyton, Andrew, Laura and Isla, now 5. Picture by Steve Brown.