With the publishing last week of the Dundee FC Supporters’ Society manifesto, the Society reiterated our desire to engage with the community, and to this end, will be highlighting a different charity every home game. After successfully working with the British Heart Foundation, Hearty Lives and Organ Donation last season, newly appointed Community Director Jacqui Robertson will oversee the work in this area. Jacqui said, “As part of our drive as a community club, we wanted to give a voice to local charities as well as helping them to reach a wider audience. Although this is a small part of the wider picture in our community focus, it is clearly a very important part and we are proud to be building bridges within our community.”
For the first home game of the season, the Society is delighted to welcome to Dens Park a local charity Tayside Children with Cancer and Leukaemia (TCCL).
Tayside Children with Cancer and Leukaemia work in association with ward 29 at Ninewells Hospital and provide support for children diagnosed with cancer or leukaemia, and their families. The charity was originally formed in 1994, by a group of parents, in order to support each through difficult times, and while this group of parents eventually drifted apart, a nurse from ward 29 recognised the benefits of such a group for future families, and basically restarted this group.
TCCL then set itself a target; the children in hospital for treatment had nowhere to play, so £50,000 was raised to turn what was essentially a builder’s yard into a playground for these children. Since then TCCL has gone from strength to strength, as Charity Chairman John Walker explained. ‘TCCL decided that the work being done was helpful, but to continue, should become a registered charity, and once that goal was achieved, we set about seeing how we could improve the quality of life for these families.
'TCCL offers financial help to families at a time when it is needed, often parents have to give up work to care for their children, and we try to help in whatever way we can, whether it’s help with expenses, or in some cases providing driving lessons, anything which helps parents in difficult and stressful times. We have had internet connections installed at the hospital, so kids can keep up with friends and schoolwork, and transformed two rooms at the hospital into child friendly rooms. We think it is important that these children lead as normal a life as is possible while undergoing lengthy treatments.’
TCCL also provide days out for kids; an annual Teddy Bears Picnic sees John dressed up as a bear and being chased around a park, there’s a Halloween party and a pantomime visit as the charity try to organise at least one outing every month. All this costs money however, and John was keen to point out that apart from a small allowance for postage and stationery, every penny raised goes to helping families. ‘The charity last year raised £34,000, and spent £33,000, so obviously, fund raising is an ongoing thing.' St Andrews University students have adopted TCCL as their charity of the year, and raised £17,000 for TCCL last year. Felix Milander is the big brother of Finn, who is being treated for leukaemia. Felix and five of his friends undertook a charity cycle, with the aim of raising £150, but with some fantastic support, managed to raise over £5,000 – a fantastic sum!
Pamela Conway, whose daughter Georgia was diagnosed with Leukaemia, helped with the effort after raising £2,995 at a recent charity night. For Pamela, helping give something back to TCCL is the least she could do, ‘When Georgia was diagnosed at 23 months, my life instantly changed.
While trying to deal with everything that diagnosis brings with it, I also had to give up work to care for Georgia. TCCL were amazing, they offered help dealing with Georgia’s illness, they offered financial support and driving lessons for myself to make travelling to and from hospital easier. Georgia has been on days out, where TCCL have arranged for places to be closed for us when Georgia’s immune system was weak, and her day of pampering – she was basically a princess for a day – was very special. The work TCCL do and the help and support they provide is invaluable, and while Georgia is now finished her treatment, the people at TCCL will always be friends.’
TCCL's latest challenge is to build a respite lodge somewhere within ninety minutes of Ninewells. John acknowledged that this was a massive challenge, with a target to raise £250,000 in five years. ‘We have used Callum’s Cabin, a respite facility on the west coast, and everyone has said it was great, unfortunately the distance means that only certain families can use it, if a child becomes ill for example, the family are too far away from both the hospital, and its support network. What we aim to do is provide a similar facility which is local, which would ensure that if necessary, the child can receive healthcare fairly quickly.
The Dundee FC Supporters’ Society is delighted to help this very worthwhile charity, and would like to wish TCCL every success in its fundraising efforts. Anyone looking for more information can visit TCCL’s website. Supporters in the Bobby Cox Stand on Saturday are encouraged to visit an information stand, which will be located in the concourse, to find out more about TCCL and the work they do. The Society has also invited some of the children the charity helps to attend Saturday’s game as our guests, where they will be presented with a signed Dundee FC top and match ball which we hope can be used to assist their fundraising activities.
The Society would like to provide the opportunity for all local charities to apply to be considered to work with us and anyone interested please contact our Community Director Jacqui Robertson.