Fife schoolchildren glow for gold

Classmates of Agatha King (5) and Toby Etheridge (11) at St Columba’s Primary joined in the Glow Gold campaign that ran throughout the UK during September to raise awareness among parents of the signs and symptoms of childhood cancer as well as put it on the political agenda and raise more funds for the treatment and research.

The campaign was launched UK-wide earlier this year by a group of Edinburgh parents and grandparents whose families were affected by the illness.

Every day, 10 children are diagnosed with cancer and the group wanted to raise awareness in the hope that an earlier diagnosis would result in a better outcome.

As part of the campaign, they asked that iconic landmarks up and down the country be illuminated in gold, and among those taking part were Edinburgh Castle and The Kelpies.

Both Agatha and Toby have been diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and are undergoing gruelling treatment.

Agatha’s P2 class, led by her teacher Natalie Young, gave an assembly to the whole school about childhood cancers and as a result the children decided to dress in yellow or gold to support the campaign.

Donations were voluntary but the school raised around £200, which will be split between two good causes – Tayside Children with Cancer and Leukaemia (TCCL) and Toby’s Magical Journey, currently seeking charitable status, which aims to support children and young people with cancer in Fife.

Agatha’s mum Karen (40) said: “I’m so proud of Agatha, she takes every day as it comes and deals with whatever cancer throws at her.

“She has had a really difficult journey so far, and we wouldn’t be where we are now without the incredible support of TCCL and her school.

“They have gone above and beyond and they’ve truly made a difference to our lives.

“The children and the school have worked so hard to help raise awareness and it’s great that they’ve also managed to raise some money for two worthwhile charities as well.”