All for Aaron

By Varrie Wardrop, jogscotland Dunfermline

jogscotland Dunfermline made a fantastic fundraising effort throughout 2019, handing over an impressive £3,250 for a charity that was particularly close to home.

One of the group’s founding jog leaders, Christine Garvie, said: “We chose Jak’s Den this year because one of our members told us about the great work that they do in helping families with terminally ill children and we heard first hand how important this was.”

Dougie Murphy sadly knew about the charity’s work, because he and his family were helped by them when son Aaron was diagnosed with leukaemia. He first fell ill in 2011 and relapsed in 2017, sadly passing away in May 2019 at the age of 11.

Dougie said: “For me and my family what Jak’s Den offers has been amazing. Childhood cancer affects the whole family.

“Aaron’s sister has some major anxiety while trying to process that her brother had cancer. My wife, Louise and myself both struggled to come to terms with Aaron’s illness returning. Unfortunately as adults we understand the gravity of the situation.

“Thanks to Team Jak, we are able to handle things a little easier. The pain will always be with us but the services they have offered have been a lifeline for us. We have all received counselling. Emma and Aaron both had music therapy and play therapy.

“We are also able to go to the den when we want to. They offer a list of activities to take our minds away from the hospital and spend some quality time with families in similar situation as ourselves. The team at Jak’s Den are all amazing and we love being part of the Team Jak family, they continue to support us all as a family and individuals.”

The fundraising was carried out with the help of neighbouring group Jog Cowdenbeath, taking on a triple challenge which kicked off in May with the Hell o’Beath Run, Ride and Climb. Members of the two groups competed to get to the top of Hill of Beath and back in the fastest time.

The Summer Solstice Run, Ride & Walk took place on the Forth Bridge in June. Starting at sunset, teams of runners, bikers and walkers competed in a relay to cross back and forth over the bridge before sunrise. The final challenge, in September, saw members climb a Munro, Carn Liath, near Pitlochry.

The club presented the cheque to Dougie on 6 November. It brings the total raised by the jog group since it formed in 2003 to more than £8,500, benefitting charities including Diabetes Scotland, Muscular Dystrophy and Action on Depression.