School pupils are rallying around a friend whose life has been devastated by cancer.
This weekend hundreds of youngsters will participate in a fundraising day to help Forfar Academy pupil Laura Forbes and her family after a simple fall led the 15-year-old into a chain of events which have left her battling the disease.
A bright, healthy and active pupil at the Angus secondary, Laura injured her knee in a fall on a Duke of Edinburgh trip last year and when the injury failed to heal properly she began to struggle with her mobility.
Last September, after numerous hospital visits and appointments, the teenager and her family were finally told she had bone cancer in her knee, and Laura immediately began chemotherapy.
Sadly, what was to have been a short, intensive programme dragged out and Laura underwent surgery three days before Christmas.
After a 13-hour operation to replace her knee it looked as though Laura was over the worst, but there is still a battle ahead, as her chemotherapy is set to continue for months
Laura spends most of her week at the Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital with her mother, Audrey, who has been granted extended leave of absence from her job.
Despite her huge uphill struggle, Laura is still trying to complete three Standard Grade exams this session and is looking forward to next session, already having completed her S5 option sheet.
Forfar Academy principal teacher of pupil care and support Euan Gow said that approach is extremely important.
He said: ”Also of great importance to her recovery is the fact that she knows that she is still part of Forfar Academy, and her friends have not forgotten about her.”
Friends anxious to help proposed activities, including a sponsored walk involving her younger brother, Daniel, a pupil at Forfar’s Whitehills Primary School.
The idea has grown into Laura’s Big Fun Event at Murton nature reserve, near Forfar, on Sunday.
Mr Gow said: ”Murton and Forfar Academy have very close links and they offered us the use of their nature trail for the sponsored walk.
”Laura’s friends have organised lots of other activities which will take place at Murton during the day and as the event has taken shape, lots of other people have volunteered to become involved.”
Before the sponsored walk a 10km race at Murton will be held, with an expected entry of around 200.
Mr Gow said: ”I have been quire overwhelmed by the support shown by so many people in the school and Laura and her family would like to thank everyone in advance for all they are doing.”
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