Trust aims to pour out funds in toast to Verity

Published on Wednesday 15 June 2011 12:57

A £100,000 fundraising drive has been launched in memory of an eight-year-old who died of cancer.

It is the second legacy left by Verity Young, from the New Town, since she died in 2009.

Her mother, Laura, has founded the Teapot Trust, with the goal of funding two art therapists for the Sick Kids Hospital in Edinburgh, and its Glasgow equivalent.

The family has already given tremendous support to the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service.

Mrs Young chose the cause after seeing the impact the workers had on her daughter as she battled both cancer and lupus - which attacks the immune system.

She has set a target of a year to raise the necessary cash, and is keen that fundraising has an element of two things which Verity loved - tea and cake.

Mrs Young said: "When Verity was in hospital we saw a gap and decided that it needs filled.

"With so many cuts, art and play therapists are under as much threat as everyone else, so we decided to at least try and do something about it.

"It is an ambitious target, but we have to raise enough so that we can actually see this through."

She added: "It is important as a charity that we do something that needs to be done," Mrs Young said. "We noticed the role of these therapists when Verity was struggling emotionally, realising how ill she was.

"She would hide, or refuse to get out the car when we were there, digging herself into her seat. They were the one thing that would change this. They allowed her to express how she felt, to get rid of all that anger and upset."

Since Verity's death, Mrs Young has committed herself to awareness and fundraising in honour of her daughter.

Despite her young age, Verity was passionate about blood donation. Because of her illness, she received numerous transfusions, and as a result would persuade her schoolmates' parents, teachers and friends to give blood.

Mrs Young has kept on that duty by arranging specialist donor sessions.

Public Health Minister Michael Matheson said: "No-one should underestimate the amount of work put in to establishing organisations determined to make a positive difference to people's lives.

"I congratulate all those behind the launch of the Teapot Trust and wish them well in their efforts to provide art therapy and to help children suffering from lupus."

&#149 To support the Teapot Trust, visit www.teapot-trust.org

'Every penny raised can help someone'

A GRANDMOTHER who was diagnosed with cancer three days before she retired is encouraging women across Edinburgh and the Lothians to sign up to Race for Life.

Anne Wallace, who lives in Dedridge, Livingston, was given the devastating news that she had breast cancer in June last year following a routine mammogram.

The 61-year-old underwent a mastectomy at St John's Hospital in July last year followed by 20 sessions of radiotherapy.

Ms Wallace said her background as a nurse helped her to overcome her fears.

"The doctor put his arm around me and said, 'don't worry, we will take good care of you'. That was it. I knew they would so I didn't feel scared. I have a lot of faith in the doctors and nurses in the NHS and I wanted to get on with life."

"You have to stay positive. We need to get across the message that if it's caught early enough, breast cancer isn't a death sentence. You can live life to the full after cancer."

She added: "Every penny raised can save a life."