Plans for two more cancer support centres in memory of Jak Trueman
A fundraising drive is launched on what would have been his 18th birthday.
Last updated 26th Sep 2017
On what would have been the 18th birthday of West Calder teen Jak Trueman, his mum has announced plans to open two more support centres for seriously ill children.
The teen died in 2015 from a rare blood cancer and months later charity 'Team Jak' - set up in his memory - opened their first 'Jak's Den in Livingston.
The centre provides a safe space for children living with cancer and offers counselling and support to their families.
Now, a crowdfunding campaign to raise £180,000 has been launched in order to open two similar centres in Glenrothes and in Aberdeen.
Jak's mum Allison Barr told Forth News: "When Jak fell ill he realised that while the medical care was outstanding, there was very little emotional and social support available for kids with cancer.
"Quite often their blood counts go so low that they are at risk of infection if they go in to public places. So they need somewhere that they feel safe.
"I think one of the biggest things that we've learned since Jak died and we opened the first den is that one isn't going to be enough.
"We need satellite dens throughout Scotland. We want to make sure we reach every child with cancer in the country.
"A lot of the families (from across Scotland) come to Edinburgh for their treatment. So we knew a lot of families and they knew us from the hospital in Edinburgh. They would approach us and ask if we would be willing to set up more Dens.
"I feel like I'm very much still stuck at two years ago when Jak died. I think my biggest fear is that my son will be forgotten. But thanks to this challenge that Jak has given me and lots of people, hopefully he never will be.
"It's really quite a confusing time for me, there's lots of exciting things happening but also I have this pain that my son should be here. We should be going out on his 18th birthday and having his first pint with him, not for him."