Can you help Kirkcaldy glow gold next month?

Town mum Kelly Clarkson will be putting out a number of gold bikes at various locations in the Lang Toun for the second year in a row to generate awareness of childhood cancer on behalf of Megan’s Journey.

She is supporting the national Glow Gold September campaign which marks Childhood Cancer Awareness Month by spray-painting bikes gold and putting them on display.

The bikes symbolise childhoods lost as a result of cancer.

Megan’s Journey was set up in memory of Kelly’s daughter Megan (2), who died after battling a rare form of lung cancer.

Kelly was inspired to help some of the charities that supported Megan and so launched the fundraising initiative at the end of 2018.

She is hoping the local Glow Gold campaign will be bigger and better than last year – and she also wants local businesses to get involved.

She said: “This year we have more bikes.

“We have received a lot of donations of bikes and scooters from people, and a Kirkcaldy business, Bodywyse Autocare, has kindly offered once again to spray-paint all the bikes gold which is amazing and such a big help” she said.

“Lots of businesses and people have also offered to donate money including Kirkcaldy YMCA amateur football team which has given us £200.

“They have also put the logo for Megan’s Journey on their training tops to also help raise awareness which is fantastic.”

The backing will help to properly secure the bikes this year after several were cynically stolen in 2019.

Added Kelly: “We don’t want that to be a problem this year.

“It wasn’t anything malicious it is just one of those things that happen unfortunately, so by securing them we don’t let it happen again.

“We are buying enough bike chains to make sure the bikes don’t go anywhere.”

Kelly has urged businesses to back the 2020 campaign in their own creative ways.

She said: “I thought instead of local businesses helping with painting the bikes, perhaps they could help raise awareness of childhood cancer.

“For example, they could have a gold window display, a gold filter on their lights, have gold balloons – even just having something in their shop like a nice vase of sunflowers. I can supply childhood cancer awareness cards.

“It is just to raise awareness of the symptoms and let people know what to look out for because early detection is key.

“The more we can do that, especially in these times, the better as people might not be going to their GP surgery as they would normally because of the Covid pandemic.

“Things might get missed which is my worry.

“The more parents are aware, the more they can keep a look out for any symptoms.”

She added: “I really hope a lot of local businesses will get on board and take part to make sure Kirkcaldy really glows gold this year.”

To support Megan’s Journey search for @meggymoosjourney on Facebook.

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