WE ARE SO PROUD OF LITTLE FIGHTER EILISH
A little disabled girl has been hailed a hero for fronting a £2million campaign to save a much-loved kids’ facility.
Eilish Cowan, five, and her dad, Lawrence, 39, helped launch the Our Kids Won’t Wait campaign for disabled children’s charity The Yard, urging the Scottish Government to reverse cuts to its funding.
The youngster has a rare genetic condition which means she struggles to walk, is vision impaired and has a learning disability.
But that didn’t stop her joining other campaigners and they won their fight for extra cash for the Yard in October last year.
The £2million investment means the charity can improve its service in Tayside and open a new centre in the west of Scotland.
Now, Eilish’s work has led The Yard to be nominated in the Campaign of the Year category in the Scottish Charity Awards.
And her family are calling for people to vote for it to win.
Eilish said: “I’m proud. I love The Yard. Vote for me!”
Her dad added: “We’re so proud of our wee girl. We hope this nomination is something she can look back on and feel proud about.
“Eilish’s genetic condition means she struggles with things we all take for granted. But just like any other wee girl, she deserves love and a place to feel like she belongs.
“The Yard provides a place for disabled children like Eilish to have fun, make friends and be proud of who they are.
“We need to expand the work of The Yard across Scotland.
“To be able to say Eilish contributed to growing The Yard’s work and opening up more opportunities for disabled children makes my wife and I so emotional and proud. But to win, we need your votes. So please get behind Eilish’s campaign.” The Yard started in Edinburgh and helps 1500 young people and their families each week by providing play facilities.
In 2012, as part of a project by BBC DIY SOS for Children in Need, 200 tradespeople gave up their time to refurbish The Yard.
Nick Knowles, who hosted the show, described the service as “a little miracle tucked away between the streets in Edinburgh”.
To vote in the awards, go to scvo. scot/scottish-charity-awards
Please get behind Eilish’s campaign and vote LAWRENCE COWAN ON AWARD NOMINATION