|
Sam's BIG STAR
 |
Sam's BIG STAR Foundation |
For Sam...
Sam's BIG STAR Charity Prize Draw 
|
In March 2008 Alan & Fiona Coupar lost their 19 year old son Sam. In January 2006 Sam had been diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumour. The prognosis was not good and after surgery in Dundee's Ninewells Hospital, Sam continued his fight in Glasgow. Throughout Sam's illness he just "got on with it". He finished High School and set off for University in Edinburgh to become an Engineer. Sam was not difficult to like so he enjoyed the student life with new and old friends alike. His strength of character ensured his obvious treatment and surgical scars did not hold him back. In fact his attitude was simply "so, I have a brain tumour...meh!" Even in late 2007 when his illness meant he had to leave Edinburgh and return home for the full time care of his family he never once complained. He remained incredibly strong when it would have been very easy to crumble. He remained strong for his family's sake - a very selfless act that was of immeasurable help to both his parents and younger siblings, Jamie and Sarah. Brain tumours are the most common fatal cancer in children in the UK and research is still very underfunded. There are many dedicated individuals and groups in the UK working very hard to raise awareness and funds to help find a cure, none more so than brainstrust (www.brainstrust.org.uk) a charity dedicated to all aspects of brain cancer, from care to cure. Under its umbrella, Sam's family and friends have launched "Sam's BIG STAR Foundation" with the intention of helping Brainstrust in its aims. Monies raised through Sam's BIG STAR Foundation will help fund work at the first nationwide brain tumour tissue bank, based in Glasgow's Southern General Hospital. The tissue bank was made possible thanks to the fantastic fund raising of the family and friends of Charlotte Smith, another teenager tragically lost to a brain tumour. This initiative effectively means that for the first time ever, a researcher from any organisation, irrespective of its location, will have direct access to tissue to test for things such as genetic links, the sensitivity to chemotherapy and for the identification of key markers that will, hopefully, increase future patient’s treatment options. This tissue will come with all the ethical consents and clinical data that sits behind it. |
Sam would not be best pleased if his family and friends spent too long moping about with all that grieving stuff so, in true Sam spirit we are going to raise as much cash as we can and give it to the good people with the knowledge to fight this horrible disease and bring us all closer to the day when Cancer is no longer responsible for so many tears... |
