We will never forget Heather

Jun 30 2009 by Lynn Jolly, Paisley Daily Express

FRIENDS and family have raised more than £2,000 in memory of Paisley teen Heather Sloan through a charity fun run.

Fun-loving Heather, 18, passed away in October 2008 in her mother’s arms after bravely battling cancer for two years.

The bubbly teen discovered she had Hodgkin’s Lymphoma when she was just 16, but never complained or felt sorry for herself.

And her Buddies held a second fun run in her memory in April, followed by a buffet at Varsova – which is now the College Bar – and a dance in The Liberal Club.

Friend and organiser Kirsty McConnell said: “There were about 60 people there for the run.

“Then Varsova put on a last minute free buffet for everyone.

“All the money we raise will go to the ACCORD Hospice in Paisley, and we would like to thank everybody who donated raffle prizes or helped out, especially The Liberal Club for giving us the hall for free.”

Heather’s other pals Lizzy Murray, Nicola Robertson, Danielle Dreghorn, Lynn Millar and Dionne Toner were involved in organising the event.

And they still have cash to collect from sponsors.

Lizzy said: “Heather was a right party girl.

“Even at the start, when she found out she was ill, she still partied.”

Keen footballer Heather, who supported Rangers, was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma when she was 16 and throughout her diagnosis and treatment she had great support from her mum Heather, dad Hugh, brothers Scott and Jamie and big sister Sheryl.

Raver Heather, from Ferguslie Park, had a colourful send-off at Woodside Crematorium and bravely organised her own funeral – complete with a pink coffin.

Mrs Sloan said: “Heather was lucky to have had such good friends.

“The girls are very nice and they still keep in touch. Their fundraising has been brilliant, and they are still putting notes on Heather’s Bebo site.

“We have kept this open and the messages on it are very comforting.”

The girls running total of £2,095.50 will be beefed up by other donations, and they will present the cheque to ACCORD when all pledges are collected.