Trip down Memory Lane for Carluke Team Erin

Carluke teenager Erin McCafferty (15), who was diagnosed with leukaemia in October, was back at her primary school to receive the latest donation to a campaign which has already brought in more than £33,000.
By The Newsroom
Published 10th Feb 2016, 09:25 BST
Updated 10th Feb 2016, 09:29 BST
Carluke Primary and nursery pupils present a cheque to Erin McCafferty and twin sister Nicole.Carluke Primary and nursery pupils present a cheque to Erin McCafferty and twin sister Nicole.
Carluke Primary and nursery pupils present a cheque to Erin McCafferty and twin sister Nicole.

Immediately after her diagnosis, Erin’s twin sister Nicole opened a JustGiving page to raise funds for the Teenage Cancer Trust, which is supporting Erin. Nicole set a target of £800, but by early this year it was well over £30,000.

Nicole’s hashtag #TeamErin went viral almost instantly, with donations flooding in from far and wide, and charity events being organised.

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The cheque presented at Carluke Primary this week was for £650 raised by pupils.

“As Erin was a former pupil of both the nursery and the school a number of pupils, parents and staff, who know the family well, felt strongly that we should show our support in some way,” said depute head teacher Siobhan Mooty.

The nursery decided to have a Christmas Fair. The children made a number of items for it, and the parents provided home baking to sell on the day.

The school then held a Dress Down Day and all the proceeds were donated to the family towards their fundraising efforts.

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“As a school we think it is important to support those in our local community in their time of need and it shows that the pupils, parents and staff in Carluke Primary and nursery really do think of others and have a strong sense of community spirit,” added Siobhan.

Erin’s mother Yvonne said this week that the support, from friends, businesses and everyone else, had been amazing. “Lots of people from different areas are doing different things,” she said.

She passed on thanks to all the businesses in the area which have been supporting the fundraising - hairdressers carrying out headshaves for those being sponsored, and businesses which have made so many doantions for all the fundraising events.

“I want to say thanks to the whole community,” she said.

Erin’s treatment is continuing - “she is doing well at the moment,” said her mum.

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Erin is attending Carluke High School for a few hours a week, but hopes to go back for a bit longer after this week.

And she enjoyed her visit to Carluke Primary, meeting her nursery teachers again.

“It was atrip down memory lane,” added Yvonne.