Walkers brave the rain to trek Sidlaws in support of Fraserburgh girl Olivia Downie
ByNews reporter
A group of Dundee fund-raisers took to the Sidlaws at the weekend in aid of a six-year-old girl who is fighting cancer.
Retired police officer Charlie Sharkey (53), of Broughty Ferry, spent the last fortnight organising Sunday’s thigh-burning seven-mile trek over part of the Sidlaw Hills.
Mr Sharkey, who now works as a security officer, was inspired to hold the event after reading the story of Olivia Downie from Fraserburgh who, aged just four, was diagnosed with neuroblastoma cancer.
The disease was discovered after the youngster complained to her mum and dad, Lauren and Steven, that she was tired and had severe back pains.
Concerned for their daughter’s welfare, the parents took her to Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital but within 24 hours were delivered the devastating news, leaving them “shocked and horrified to the core.”
Olivia’s parents are desperate to start the youngster on a new therapy, developed in Germany, but need £60,000 to do so.
So far around £12,500 has been raised through online donations but Charlie and the other Sidlaws trekkers were aiming to add £1000 from their efforts.
