Bravery of sisters hit by cancer
Rebekah and Megan Rae are both battling cancer. Pic by CWM Photography
THE lives of a Kirkcaldy family have been turned upside down after two sisters were diagnosed with cancer just months apart.
Rebekah Rae (12) was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma in September and has since had the tumour removed and been undergoing chemotherapy.
With just two more treatments left, parents Julie and Murray, thought their family’s difficult time was nearing an end, however two weeks ago they received another blow when Rebekah’s younger sister Megan (10), was diagnosed with B Cell Lymphoma, a form of blood cancer.
Rebekah will complete her treatment in the coming weeks, and Megan began her chemotherapy sessions this week.
Julie’s sister, Marie Lally explained: “Megan’s diagnosis came as a shock to everyone.
“She had a lump on her neck, but the doctors initially thought it was just a swollen gland. Unfortunately it wasn’t.
“The doctors at the Sick Kids Hospital told my sister and Murray this is the first time in over 15 years they have had a case with two siblings having cancer.
“They also said the chance of this happening was like winning the lottery, one in so many millions.
Tracey Hook, another of Julie’s sisters added: “They are such a nice family and really well liked.
“They do not deserve this.”
Rebekah had just gone into first year at St Andrew’s High School when she was diagnosed and Megan is a pupil at St Marie’s Primary.
In a bid to support the family, Marie, Tracey and Julie’s other sisters Wendy McCormack and Katie Goodsir, have set up a website and Facebook page to raise awareness of the Raes’ experiences and to help fundraise for their two young nieces.
Fundraising
Other family members, friends and local businesses are also lending their support with a number pledging to host fundraising events in the coming weeks.
Among those events already starting to take shape are two sponsored walks.
Megan’s best friend Olivia Rose Taylor plans to do a sponsored walk with her other friends in Beveridge Park on June 23.
And Sharon Howie and Adele Lindsay are arranging a walk from Kirkcaldy to the Forth Road Bridge, along the Fife Coastal Path, on Sunday, July 8.
Other fundraisers include a relative doing a sponsored skydive, a bucket collection at St Marie’s Primary School’s sports day and a sponsored cycle.
Through the Facebook page - Please Help Rebekah and Megan - the family have been contacted by a number of people passing on their best wishes and offering to help out with fundraising.
Mrs Lally told the Press: “The support from people has been overwhelming and absolutely amazing.
“People have been getting in touch offering to fundraise and help in any way they can. We’ve also had messages from a lot of people sending kind words and saying nice things to my sister, Murray and the girls. It just shows there are a lot of nice people out there.”
>> Visit http://pleasehelprebekahandmegan.webeden.co.uk or www.facebook.com/pleasehelprebekahandmegan
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Weather for Kirkcaldy
Friday 24 May 2013
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Temperature: 2 C to 12 C
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