A charity set up in memory of a teenage boy from Sudbury who died from a brain tumour has now raised more than £150,000 since his death in 2014.
The Smile of Arran Trust was launched four years ago in memory of Arran Tosh, who died aged 13, after being diagnosed with cancer following a routine eye test.
The money raised over the years has been used to help other children who have been diagnosed with brain tumours and their families.
The latest donation from the charity went to the Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust (ACT), which received £7,000 to fund music therapy for children at the hospital and who attend the out patient clinics.
Arran was a keen musician and was busking with his friends outside Sudbury’s Cancer Research shop a week before his own illness was uncovered.
Alison Tosh, Arran’s mother, said: “Arran loved playing his guitar and singing, as many of his friends and family know.
“It was his passion to keep music a part of his charity work and possibly as a career. While we sat around Arran’s hospital bed, we always had music playing, it was one of his favourite things in life.
“On behalf of The Smile of Arran, we are delighted to be a part of this wonderful project. Playing a part in helping other children who attend Addenbrookes Hospital is a wonderful legacy to Arran.”
The next fundraising event is the second Smile of Arran Ball on Friday, May 11, which will take place at the White Hart pub in Great Yeldham.
Tickets are £40 each for a three-course meal and live music and can be requested by emailing arranball18@gmail.com
The fourth annual Arran Walk is also being arranged and will see 28 family and friends spend five days walking around the Isle of Arran in Scotland.
Money from the walk will be donated to the Queen Elizabeth Children’s Hospital in Glasgow to help children diagnosed with brain tumours.
The family is keen to secure sponsorship from business who would like to support them with accommodation costs to ensure all fundraising go directly to the children.
Alison added: “We miss him desperately and as time goes by it seems to get harder. Especially when the milestones come and go.
“But Arran always wanted to help others and now we can make his ambition come true through the charity.”
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