Rallying round Aiden's family for diabetes fundraising

But now Aiden’s mum and dad John and Lin are turning their grief into something positive by taking part in the London Marathon on April 22 in aid of Juvenile Diabetes Research – and they have vowed to raise £2000 each for the charity.

To help them reach their target, long-time friend and neighbour Hazel Duncan is holding a coffee morning in Linktown Church on March 10.

The event, which will feature Mother’s Day and Easter craft stalls, will run from 10am-12.30pm, and tickets priced £4 for adults and £2 for children can be bought at the door.

It will also have a cake and candy stall, tombola and lucky dip for children, as well as handbags and jewellery for sale.

Hazel (54), who has been a member of the church for the past 10 years told the Press: “The Sutherlands are our friends and neighbours.

“We all moved into the first phase of Seafield together with our young families 20 years ago when Aidan was just a baby, with big brother Keiren, and sister Mherrin on the way.

“I had my six week old daughter Mhairi, and Lin has been a fabulous neighbour, looking after Mhairi for me when I went back to work after maternity leave. Aidan, Mherrin, Mhairi and Keiren were no walk in the park, but she managed them effortlessly, and always with humour, and those early summers were full of dressing up and crazy hair styles.

“Aidan just joined in with the girls, although he was always up for a game with a ball.

“We moved to a bigger house next door and the Sutherlands moved around the corner about 15 years ago, and Lin trained to be a womens health nurse, but we all kept in touch.

“We were all devastated when Aiden died and when I heard that Lin and John were raising money for Juvenile Diabetes Research by running the marathon, I felt I wanted to do something to help them.

“This coffee morning is the least I can do as I know lots of people who have been affected by diabetes, and one of them is a dietician specialising in diabetes. She is preparing quiz sheets for the coffee morning with the aim of educating people about the condition.

“Linktown church has a very modern and supportive congregation, and I want to raise as much as I can to help. Other friends of the Sutherlands have done the loony dook and swimming challenges to boost the total.”

The event is being supported by Morrisons and Raith Rovers where a charity football match in Aiden’s memory was held last October.