A charity set up in memory of a young cancer victim has released a poignant new calendar which took almost two years to produce.
The Moray-based Aila Coull Foundation has already raised more than £140,000 and funded a £48,860 research study at the Paul O’Gorman Leukaemia Research Centre at Glasgow University.
The new calendar features images of local children inspired by Aila’s favourite nursery rhymes, poems and television programmes.
Her parents Fraser and Sine Macdonald-Coull set up the foundation to support medical research after their daughter lost her battle with childhood acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) in 2012, when she was aged just 16 months.
Buckie photographer Shelley Mackie, was inspired to shoot the calendar after hearing about the Elgin couple’s drive to help fight the very rare and aggressive form of cancer.
AML affects less than 20% of children with leukaemia, and patients have to be put in isolation for several months because their immune systems are greatly weakened.
There is currently only a 50% survival rate.
Ms Mackie said: “I had taken photographs of Aila and her brother shortly before she was diagnosed so, when I heard about the foundation and all the great work they do, I really wanted to help out.
“I got in touch with Sine and suggested we create a charity calendar, and she came up with the idea of using Aila’s friends as models and using the songs, poems and television programmes she loved as the inspiration for the shoots.
“Everything about the calendar has a very special meaning to Aila’s family, and working on this project meant a lot to me.”
Aila’s mum is proud of the finished calendar, which costs only £5, and is hoping that local people will help the foundation continue to support those trying to find cures for AML.
She said: “The calendar features photos inspired by the songs I sang to Aila when she was ill. The calendar also features a picture that depicts Leukaemia Awareness Month and one that shows lots of local children releasing balloons on the beach in her memory.
“In 2015, we hope to continue supporting research projects into AML by completing current projects and looking into funding upcoming studies.
“We will continue to fundraise in Aila’s name to help facilitate more research into this devastating disease.”
