Father's £40k fundraising boosts cancer charities

A FATHER has handed over almost £40,000 for charity after his young daughter was struck by bone cancer.

Persia Honar, from Bahrain, was 12 when she was diagnosed with Ewing's Sarcoma in her back. Persia, whose mother Vicky comes from Fife, underwent a gruelling combination of chemotherapy, radiotherapy and two spine operations at Edinburgh's Royal Hospital for Sick Children.

Back home in Bahrain, her father Mehdi started a major fundraising appeal, organising a rugby match and dinner, which saw 20 former international rugby players from Ireland and Scotland take on a team of local players.

He raised 24,000 for Teenage Cancer Trust and 14,000 for the Sick Kids Friends Foundation.

The Sick Kids' money is being rounded up to 15,000 with a donation from Mr Honar's employer, BAM Construction Scotland.

Persia, now 13, is in remission and is due to return to Bahrain this week.

Mr Honar said: "It's a horrible and frustrating feeling for a parent to watch their child go through illness and not be able to protect them.

"I had no targets or specific goals, it was simply to express my thanks for all the help and support Persia and my family have received."