A Dundee family have lit up their home with a dazzling festive display – in memory of a shining light in their lives, daughter and sister Sara.
The Craighead family from Broughty Ferry cover their home and garden in Broughty Ferry every Christmas in Sara’s honour.
She was just 35 when she died from a brain tumour in April 2013.
And Sara’s brother Ian Craighead, 40, and his parents, Syd and Helen, both 69, have continued the Christmas lights tradition she loved so much, every year since.
The colourful display has grown each year and takes days to construct – with Syd and Ian putting the lights up and Helen ‘supervising’, says Ian.
As well as bringing joy to everyone living in Portree Avenue, the family raises vital funds and awareness for Brain Tumour Research with the illuminations.
Ian, a furniture catalogue administrator, explains: “The lights turn what could be a sad time into a happier time.
“Christmas was a special time for our family. So we put up Christmas lights and make a big display in memory of Sara.
‘Optician saw something wrong with her eye’
“And they help to raise awareness of this devastating disease and much-needed money to help find a cure.
“They make me smile and if they make just one other person smile then it is worth all the effort.”
He continues: “People come to see the lights and make a donation to Brain Tumour Research to help fund new treatments and hopefully a cure, so someone else won’t have to go through what Sara did.”
During an eye test in 2002, the optician saw something wrong with Sara’s right eye.
After referral to Ninewells Hospital in Dundee an MRI scan revealed a brain tumour.
Surgeons removed the tumour and the inner part of her ear, leaving Sara deaf on that side.
‘Sara just got on with it’
Sadly, a scan in 2005 showed the tumour had grown back. She had another operation, followed by radiotherapy.
Ian says: “It was difficult to see my sister going through it, but she never complained and just got on with it.
“Scans later revealed the original tumour had spread to her spine and she was told no further treatment was available for her.”
As well as their lights fundraiser, where people can donate at their home, the family are working with Brain Tumour Research for Wear A Christmas Hat Day on Friday.
They’ll join thousands of people across the UK donning tinsel-topped hats and Christmas cracker crowns to raise money for research into brain tumours.
Brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer. Yet just 1% of national spend on cancer research is allocated to brain tumours.
Matthew Price, community development manager at Brain Tumour Research, says: “We’re so sorry to learn that Sara died from this devastating disease.
“We’re really grateful to Ian and Syd for lighting up their house and taking part in Wear A Christmas Hat Day.
“This raises vital money to progress our research and improve outcomes for patients like Sara who are forced to fight this awful disease.”
