Walk in memory of Angus
THE PARENTS of a schoolboy who died from leukaemia aged just 14 will be holding a fundraising walk in his memory.
Angus Rowland, who was a member of Crawley Sword Club, was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia in October 2010.
He was given a new drug to try to combat the aggressive cancer, which usually strikes older people, but tragically he was not strong enough to be considered for a life-saving bone marrow transplant.
Despite an eight-month battle and four gruelling courses of chemotherapy, the boy, who had many friends at St Wilfrid’s Catholic School and Holy Trinity School, lost his fight and died at his home in Staplefield, near Haywards Heath, on May 26 last year.
Now parents Elizabeth and Jonathan plan to hold a walk on September 30 in Staplefield to raise money for Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research.
Elizabeth said: “Angus’ leukaemia proved to be resistant to all treatment. He bore it bravely seeing friends and playing his guitar until he died.
“We, his family, have set up the Angus Rowland ForgetMeNot Fund within Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research to try and find treatments for young people with Acute Myeloid leukaemia as it is very difficult to treat.
“This is the second walk we have organised in memory of Angus. It will feature two local walks, a 6.5-mile walk on muddy rural footpaths or a one-mile walk mainly on roads. Both routes will be fully signed with two refreshment stops along the way. Registration will start at 9am at Staplefield Village Hall and the walkers will set off from 9.15ish.
“We will also have some runners too that we will register from 10am setting off at 10.15ish following the same 6.5-mile route as the walkers.
“We do not ask for sponsorship – for both we ask for a £10 donation for each walker over 14 and £5 for under 14s. There is no pre-registration, people can just turn up on the day.
“Last year it was a great success raising over £7,000 and we would be thrilled if we could achieve a similar outcome this time. We are hoping that many who walked last year will come along again.”
In a tribute to his son at Angus’s funeral, Jonathan said: “We saw him grow from a happy but restless baby through an active cheeky childhood into a loving, happy, funny and talented teenage son with huge potential.
“He loved his guitar and rocked our house with songs both new and old. He lived his life full-on and made the best of most situations, giving everything his all. He said that he left part of his heart in New Zealand on holiday but he died at home, where he loved it most. Angus is in all our memories and always will be. He was much loved and will be sorely missed.”
For details about the ForgetMeNot Fund, log on to www.justgiving.com/ remember/707/Angus-Rowland
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Crawley
Monday 20 May 2013
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 13 C to 18 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 8 C to 15 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: North
