Courageous Riley (4) fronts new charity campaign
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A BRAVE four-year-old who battled leukaemia is fronting a fundraising campaign for life-saving research into children’s cancers.
Riley MacLennan of Ness Castle, Inverness, spent almost a year in hospital after being diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and, although in remission, still faces two years of daily chemotherapy medicine.
Recently presented with an award for courage at the annual Amelia Young Highlander awards, he has now helped to launch Give Up Clothes for Good, a joint campaign between Cancer Research UK and TK Maxx to mark Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
He and his family are urging people to donate pre-loved quality clothing, accessories and homeware to their nearest TK Maxx store.
Resold items will help fund vital research into new and better treatments for the 340 children and young people diagnosed with cancer in Scotland each year.
Riley’s parents Kevin MacLennan (51) and Moira Black (41) and his 20-year-old brother Evan Black know first-hand how important research is in helping to save more lives.
"Someone once said to me that superheroes reside in the hearts of small children fighting big battles and this fits for Riley," Mr MacLennan said.
"Riley bounces back from anything that life throws at him. Last year must have been the worst year of our lives and it was hard to watch this little person we loved the most in the whole world go through cancer.
"But Riley has come so far since we were first told in a hospital room that he had cancer. He never complains and always seems to want to make everyone else happy with his bright smiles, plenty of songs and stories.
"He’s a natural performer and from the second he wakes up in the morning, is always on the go.
"If just some of his energy can help other children with cancer, that’s a good thing."
Riley was just two when he was diagnosed with leukaemia in December 2016 after developing bruises on his legs and stomach.
Following tests at Raigmore Hospital he was referred to the Schiehallion ward at the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow which was to become home for the next 10 months as he battled the side effects of treatment, including sickness and hair loss.
Riley was finally discharged in September last year but the family, who had previously lived in Alness, relocated to Inverness to be closer to Raigmore and the youngster will continue with daily maintenance chemotherapy until February 2020, as well as hospital check-ups every 12 weeks.
Mr MacLennan said Riley was doing well thanks to research into children’s cancers.
"I hope everyone across Scotland will get behind this campaign and turn something they no longer need into funds for such a fantastic cause," he said.
Donated items are being collected at all UK TK Maxx stores, including the Inverness branch in Strothers Lane.
Other local winners at the Amelia Young Highlander awards which honour under 16-year-olds for their contribution to the community include Balloch toddler Leo Flett, whose Leo’s Pride campaign is raising funds for research into the rare strain of muscular dystrophy he suffers from and Lily Hey who, as part of Nairn’s Team Hamish, has raised thousands for improvements in the seaside town in memory of her brother who died aged eight after a lifelong battle with cancer.
