The family of a teenager who died of a brain tumour just days after he was diagnosed have helped to raise hundreds of thousands of pounds in his name.
Arran Tosh, a former St Andrew’s Primary pupil in Dumfries, died in June 2014 aged just 13.
The youngster was diagnosed with a tumour following a routine eye test.
Tragically there were complications after he was operated on and Arran lost consciousness and died.
His parents Alison and Stephen plus sisters Abbie and Chloe formed The Smile of Arran Trust a year after his death with the aim of making a difference to others whose lives have been affected by the illness and to support pioneering research to find new treatments for the disease.
Over the last eight years and thanks to the generosity and kindness of so many people who have taken part in events all over the country, the trust has helped to raise more than £200,000.
The most recent fundraiser was on March 26 when the Tosh family were joined by relatives and friends at Loch Ettrick to take part in the Cold Water Dip Challenge for Young Lives vs Cancer and The Smile of Arran Trust.
Alison, 52, from Dumfries, said: “The loch was absolutely freezing, but it was completely worth enduring the cold for two minutes because we raised more than £1,000, which is amazing.
“It’s events like this that keep Arran’s name alive.
“His legacy is that so many other children like him are being helped by the trust and that is what Arran would want.”
In a tragic twist of fate, Arran had started fundraising for Cancer Research UK before his death and had hoped to raise £1,000. He was due to undergo a sponsored head shave and regularly busked in the street to raise money.
Arran had started a diary of his stay in hospital but only got to write one entry. The last thing he wrote was that “life goes on”.
Alison said: “Arran’s tumour was discovered from an eye test due to photographic imagery of the back of his eye. This led to an immediate referral for an MRI scan where doctors diagnosed the tumour.
“Although we had taken him to the doctor the week before his eye test, the doctor’s emergency request for an MRI came through on the day of his funeral.
“The one piece of advice we would give is for parents to take their children for eye tests every year, even if they don’t wear glasses.”
Despite the heartbreaking sadness of losing Arran and having to live without him, Alison and Steven, 56, have been “overwhelmed” at the success of the trust set up in their son’s name.
Alison said: “Our primary goal is to provide financial assistance to children and their families that have been affected by a brain tumour.
“Arran Grants of £150 each are handed out to families of children diagnosed with a brain tumour, or brain cancer, via the Young Lives vs Cancer charity that we work alongside.
“As a family we are overwhelmed to have so much support from everyone who helps raise funds in Arran’s memory. They are helping so many children who are sadly living with a brain tumour.
“However, like every other charity, Covid really put a dampener on our fundraising.
“Donations or fundraising are such an amazing support to us. So many children are diagnosed with brain tumours each day, month and year and we need to continue to help them.
“It would be fantastic if people could support us in any way they can.
“We’d be so grateful if any shops or businesses in the region would have our money boxes to collect donations. I’d love to hear from anyone who would be willing to do that.
“Arran would be 22 now. He was an angel sent to us for a short while, but wow, did he make an impact on all of our lives during the 13 years he was with us and he still does.
“Our hearts will always be missing a piece, and we miss our handsome boy every second of every day.
“We don’t want other families to have to go through the devastation of losing a precious child.”
To find out more about a money box, email alisonjtosh@gmail.com, or visit the Smile of Arran website at http://www.smileofarran.org.
