Birthday surprises await Kaiann (11) at Logan's Fund Lossiemouth holiday home after she 'rings the bell' at end of cancer treatment
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A MORAY children's cancer charity has welcomed its first family of 2021 to its Lossiemouth holiday home.
Logan's Fund last week opened the doors of its Logan's Sunny Days caravan to Kaiann Macallister (11) and her family to enjoy a well-deserved break.
The Rutherglen family arrived on Monday, May 3, a momentous day as not only was it Kaiann's birthday, but she had just "rang the bell" at home to signify the end of chemotherapy treatment.
The youngster was eight when she was diagnosed with leukaemia in February 2019.
Kaiann enjoyed a week of carefree fun at the beach with her little brother, Karsson (3), mum Sharon and dad Mark.
Sunny Days, at Lossiemouth Bay Caravan Park, is available to any family affected by childhood cancer.
Sharon said the family were bowled over on arrival to find the caravan festooned with balloons and stuffed with treats.
She said: "Kaiann took her last ever chemo on Monday, on her 11th birthday, so she wanted to ring her bell on that day.
"It was emotional, but strange as well because she's been on it for two and a half years. We need to wait and see how her body handles it. She'll still need to go for check-ups and she is still on lots of medication for other health problems due to the cancer."
She added: "We didn't arrive until late on Monday night, but when we arrived here it was amazing.
"The caravan was all done up with balloons and banners, and there was a big birthday cake. There were gifts left for the kids and vouchers to go and do things as a family, and there were afternoon tea boxes for us all.
"It was very touching. Kaiann was over the moon."
The holiday home has been closed since late last year due to coronavirus restrictions – forcing Logan's Fund to cancel and reschedule breaks for around 25 families.
Cameron Mackintosh, Logan's Fund chairman, is looking forward to smiles and laughter there once again.
He said: "We had around 25 families who lost their holiday with us last year either because of the first lockdown or the later regionalised travel restrictions based on Scotland's protection levels.
"It has been a difficult task this year trying to accommodate all families who lost out last year as well as all the new applications we have received.
"We also had to cancel all our spring bookings for this year. This included families who had already been rescheduled last year and moved to this – so they lost out twice over.
"We have been really lucky that our friends, Emily and George, who run the beautiful 'The Cottage' holiday home at Silversands Holiday Park, have been able to help us out with trying to accommodate as many families as we can."
Sharon is a committed fundraiser for the charities which have helped support her family, including Logan's Fund.
Before the pandemic struck Sharon had secured the Glasgow Barrowlands for a fundraiser concert, "Go Gold Live". She is crossing her fingers that the gig can take place in August this year.
The mum said: "We're going to be doing a lot more for Logan's Fund because that's the charity that really touches our heart."
Logan's Fund was founded in memory of Elgin youngster Logan Main, who died in 2009 after a cancer battle, aged just three and a half.
Visit Sharon's Go Gold Live fundraising page here.
