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Glasgow Live
Glasgow Live
National
Keiran Fleming

Renfrewshire mum and daughter go on five holidays 'to make memories' after cancer diagnosis

A seven-year-old from Erskine has raised hundreds of pounds for a local charity that supported her mum through cancer treatment.

Tamsin Morgan made her mum, Sarah, very proud when she decided to take on the Kiltwalk for Rays of Hope, which supports those living nearby who are battling the dreaded illness.

The schoolgirl's life turned upside down when she found out her mother had been diagnosed with breast cancer.

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Sarah told Glasgow Live: "At the time Tamsin was five-years-old.

"It was really hard to explain what was going on because she was too young to understand the complexities of it.

"Now she is a little bit older she understands. Having treatment and losing my hair was horrible for her.

"Her little world got flipped on its head. It was a really hard time for us but she coped really well.

"We were lucky that the school was able to provide a lot of support for her."

Although it was an extremely difficult time for the pair, Tamsin decided to step up and try to make her mum's life easier.

The then five-year-old not only acted as Sarah's motivation to fight cancer but she also acted as the 40-year-old's rock.

The loving mum said: "As a parent, everything you do is for your child.

"I think that ultimately will to survive and be better for her was such an overriding thing. I want to be around for as long as I can.

"I was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer with a high re-occurrence rate so I'm doing all I can to minimise that risk.

"It's all about living in the moment as well. We went on five holidays last year because I wanted to make memories.

"I wanted her to realise that having that time together is more important than anything else. Her outlook has changed as well, she wants to spend more time with me.

"She was amazing throughout. She shaved my head and looked after me.

"She snuggled in and watched movies with me. We have dogs and she was keen to learn how to take care of them and take them for walks."

Rays of Hope in Elderslie played a major part in both Sarah and Tamsin's life, and it still does to this day.

However, the charity has outgrown its current facility. The mum hopes the funds raised by her daughter can be put towards building an extension which will ensure that they can continue providing the same help they got to those who need it.

The 40-year-old said: "Due to its size they mainly do peer-to-peer support.

"Other parents who have children were able to provide support. We go on a Thursday night and she does pilates and sits and has a chat with the other ladies.

"I was really worried that if anything happened to me she would be faced with lots of strangers and I was keen to have people around her that she was familiar with.

"The fact that she has made those relationships means it is a lot easier for her. Since I've been out of treatment it has been about rebuilding our lives."

Sarah, who works as a fundraiser, is bursting with pride after her daughter raised more than £500.

The seven-year-old is set to take on the Kiltwalk alongside her mother next month and is hoping to raise even more.

Sarah said: "When she turned seven she wanted to join the Brownies and earn her badges.

"One of the badges involves raising money for charity. Instantly she said she wanted to raise money for Rays of Hope.

"So I suggested that we do the Kiltwalk and she was up for it.

"She has a pink kilt ready for it. We set the target at £50 but I can't believe how much we've raised.

"I'm so proud of her. She has been speaking to people about the charity and she did a presentation on it as well.

"She has done really amazing. She told her Head Teacher at school and they gave her an award because they were blown away by it."

To look at the Just Giving page click here

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