Callum’s Trust has been launched in memory of Callum Finney, a former pupil of Knowepark primary and Selkirk high schools, who lived most of his life in the town.

Callum, aged just 33, died in December after a two-year battle against Peripheral T-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

His courage throughout difficult treatment had inspired his wife Audrey, his sister Denise and a small group of friends to start fundraising in aid of ward 6 at Borders General Hospital where Callum had received treatment. After his death, however, Audrey, Denise and Callum’s friends continued to be inspired by the personality, friendship, sense of humour and stubbornness in difficult times of the man affectionately nicknamed ‘the Ginger Prince’.

So they decided to turn that inspiration into direct action as a way of remembering him and earlier this month Callum’s Trust was launched to raise funds to provide equipment and resources to local patients who are receiving treatment for lymphoma, leukaemia or myeloma; have cancer and are receiving end-of-life care at home in the Borders; to provide resources for the side rooms in ward 6 of the BGH; and to provide funds to any charity involved in the development of a hospice within this region.

“We wanted to try and find something good in what was a very negative situation,” Audrey told The Wee Paper this week. “If we could do something to help people facing similar situations to what Callum went through, then it would be a good way of remembering him.”

Denise pointed out that while there are charities raising monies for major cancer initiatives, sometimes the smaller items get overlooked.

“It doesn’t have to be something really expensive – just something that helps make someone’s life a little bit easier,” she explained.

Audrey added: “At the moment we need to raise more awareness of the trust and what we do. So we want fundraisers to get in touch with us with their ideas for events they want to do – big or small and no matter how bizarre. In fact, the crazier the better – Callum would have loved that.”

Anyone resident within the Borders and been diagnosed with lymphoma, leukaemia or myeloma this year may be eligible to apply for resources or services from Callum’s Trust. Similarly, anyone caring for someone or is receiving end-of-life cancer care at home within the Borders can also apply.

Application forms are available from the Borders Macmillan Centre, and from Palliative Care within the Macmillan Centre, at the Borders General Hospital.

For further information about the application process, contact Callum’s Trust by telephone (01896 757887) or email (afinney@callumstrust.org).