Star to help Toby onhis magical journey

The former Bell Baxter High School pupil, who plays Alex McAllister in the popular BBC soap, is due to take part in the annual ‘Old Firm’ football match at Duffus Park, which so far has raised well over £10,000 for good causes.

He’ll be donning his Rangers shirt to help raise money for Toby’s Magical Journey, which is in the process of being set up by the parents of Toby Etheridge, a 10-year-oldCupar boy undergoing gruelling cancer treatment.

The St Columba’s Primary School pupil was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemiajust before Christmas in 2014, and since then he and his family have raised more than £20,000 for CLIC Sargent, which provides support for children and young people with cancer and their families.

“More than 60 children in Fife are being treated for cancer so we wanted to set up a charity that would be more localised” explained Toby’s mum Alison.

“It will support children attending Ninewells Hospital or the Sick Kids in Edinburgh and will provide help with such things as transport costs or equiment like wheelchairs.

“The football match will give Toby’s Magical Journey a tremendous boost and we’re very honoured that the organisers have chosen it as their charity this year.”

The match kicks off at noon and Jordan will be playing against his long-time friend Wayne Melrose, who’s the event’s organiser and a confirmed Celtic fan.

“I’ve told him he’d better bring his shinguards,” said Wayne.

“Celtic have won all four matches we’ve played so far and we intend to come out on top again this year.

“We hope the people of Cupar will turn out in force on the day and help us raise as much as we can for this great local cause.”

Following the match, the community fun continues at the other end of town, in Cart Haugh, with an afternoon of entertainment organised by Alison.

The highlight of the day is a ‘cake-off’ competition, and there’ll be craft stalls, music, a magician and lots more.

Anyone who wants to enter a cake can do so at Cupar ‘Y’ at 1pm, and events in the park starts at 2pm.

Last year, the charity match raised some £3500 for Joni Halley, a young former Cupar man diagnosed with motor neurone disease.