A Tayside mother who lost her young daughter to a blood cancer is helping to raise awareness of the illness.
Bronwyn Farquharson, 7, from Dundee, died of myeloma, a blood cancer which is very rare in children, earlier this year.
Her mother Robyn Scanlon is helping to promote Shout About Myeloma along with the Myeloma UK charity.
Robyn said: “My daughter Bronwyn was diagnosed aged just six, with Myeloma.
“Doctor’s knew it was cancer but it took longer for them to realise it was Myeloma as they had never come across it in a child before.
“She fought very hard against but due to complications following her donor stem cell transplant she passed away this year.
“Myeloma is a blood cancer that not many people know about.
“This Myeloma Awareness Week, Bronwyn’s whole family and I want to raise awareness but more importantly, we need funds to invest in research to find a cure.
“We also need funds to offer the range of free support services Myeloma UK provides like the freephone Infoline.
“A little can make a big difference to so many lives so we are asking everyone to help raise awareness of Myeloma any way they can.
“There’s no more time for silence, it’s time to shout about Myeloma.”
Bronwyn had an operation to remove a tumour from her spine at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children, in Edinburgh.
Friday, June 21 marked the start of Myeloma Awareness Week which will involve promotional and fundraising activity.
Myeloma is the third most common form of blood cancer in the UK with around 175,000 people living with it at any one time.
The cancer is most commonly found in patients over 65 years but it can very rarely be found in children and there is no cure.
Myeloma UK receives no Government funding and it provides patient support, advice and assistance.
Marc Gordon, chairman of Myeloma UK, said: “It is due to the courage of supporters like Robyn and bravery of patients like Bronwyn that we are able to raise awareness of Myeloma.
“Living with a diagnosis of Myeloma places a huge physical and emotional strain on the people it affects.
“The impact of this devastating disease is huge, and the deeply personal stories our campaign highlights describe only part of the picture.”
Details can be found at ShoutAboutMyeloma.org.uk
