Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Sandra raises cash for tragic pal’s daughter
An Airdrie woman held an event at her home and raised a four- figure sum to help the young daughter of her late childhood friend.
Kind-hearted Cairnhill mum Sandra Fallon organised a special afternoon tea on Sunday and the money raised will be used to purchase a professional camera for 13- year- old budding photographer Kayla George, whose mum Anne sadly passed away from cancer at Glasgow’s Marie Curie hospice recently.
Sandra, 47, a selfemployed cleaner, had known Anne since childhood but lost touch after leaving school.
The pair then rekindled their friendship through social media and became the best of friends.
Sandra told the Advertiser: “I went at primary and high school with Anne and we also went to the majorettes together.
“She then moved to America and we connected about two years later on Facebook. At one point she lived in Airdrie but then moved to Glasgow.
“We used to meet up for school reunions but at the last reunion Anne couldn’t make it. She was too poorly.
“She was in Stobhill Hospice and that’s where she sadly passed away last Tuesday.”
Anne’s battle with cancer began over 16 years ago when she was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, which she managed to fight before going into remission.
Then a few years ago the 47-year-old was diagnosed with breast cancer and received treatment and was given the all clear. However, following a CT scan, doctors discovered a tumour in her back which then spread.
Sandra initially wanted to host her event to help Anne’s daughter Kayla with the cost of her mum’s funeral, but she sadly passed away prior to Sunday’s event.
It was then she decided to put the money raised towards buying a professional camera for the schoolgirl, who has a keen interest in photography.
Sandra explained: “Kayla showed me pictures on her phone and I wanted to do something for her.
“It was then that I decided to have an afternoon tea.”
Sandra continued: “I lost my mum in my 20s, and after what Kayla has been through with her mum, I wanted to do what I could.
“I put the event on Facebook and it escalated from there, and all the home baking came flooding in.
“Someone even came to my door with two massive cheesecakes on Sunday.
“I’m so overwhelmed by everyone’s generosity, and have been inundated with prizes from local businesses.
“Photographer John Wilson donated one of his fine art prints worth £800 to be raffled off.
“And he has also offered to take Kayla on a few photo shoots at his Bellshill studio.
“I told Anne before she was sedated that he had offered her an apprenticeship. She was delighted.”
Sandra and her daughter Naomi, 23, sold raffle tickets on the day, and aimed to raise between £ 400 and £500.
However, due to people’s generosity she exceeded her target and raised more than £2000.
A delighted Sandra added: “It was absolutely fantastic. I had such a good response from friends and family and local businesses wanting to donate items.
“It all went well and we had over 40 people turning up throughout the day until nine o’clock that night.”