Here, Jill discusses the family’s ongoing fundraising in aid of Epilepsy Research UK and their hopes for future research.
As a family we fundraise mainly through two events in the year. Our main event is the Family & Friends Loch Goilhead Tri and walk. This is held in the beautiful West coast of Scotland, where the midges are feared more than any weather storm!
We have roughly 25 to 30 people taking part, all doing what they can to remember Andrew and raise funds in his memory. The weekend starts on the Friday in the Drymsynie Estate Hotel, where we meet for a wee drink and catchup, timing plans are made for the Saturday depending on weather and tide times.
On Saturday morning, we start the walk, run and the cycle straight afterwards. Then comes the swim from one side of the loch to the other (approximately 1.4 Km depending on how straight you can swim!).
The day is rounded off with an evening meal followed by the raffle and auction, plus the obligatory wee dram of course. Everyone is so kind, which means the world to us. We once auctioned off a box of Tunnock’s Teacakes, which are incredibly nice teacakes, but for £70! It showed the generosity of everyone taking part – we are humbled by the support they give us and Epilepsy Research UK each year.
Our ultimate goal would be to see epilepsy being controlled. Andrew had different medications, but they didn’t control his seizures, each night he would have between two and six grand mal seizures. He would then wake mid-morning and get ready for school, he was our beautiful little soldier.
It would be great to think that Andrew had helped other children and families avoid the pain and loss that we feel each day – this is why we keep going. We know what the loss of a child means and if we can help stop other parents and siblings from feeling our pain, then all the hard work will have been worth it.
– Jill, September 2022
Our sincere thanks to the Graham family for their hugely generous support of Epilepsy Research UK through the Andrew Graham Memorial Fund. You can read Andrew’s story and make a donation to his memorial fund here.
