Traders have sent an SOS appeal to locals to help a young Ayrshire lad battling cancer.
Calum Rae is currently undergoing gruelling treatment for high risk neuroblastoma – an aggressive form of childhood cancer that carries a 50 per cent survival rate.
The four-year-old “Rae of sunshine” needs £250,000 to go to New York for specialist vaccine which could save his life.
Now two Troon businesses have joined forces to host a charity car wash this Saturday at Portland Park.
Ross Weir, who runs Doghouse Installations, teamed up with the team at popular takeaway Scran. Ross, who is also a neighbour to Calum, has become an unofficial mascot for the cause.
Ross told Ayrshire Live: “Calum’s not been having a great time of it. I live in the house the other side of his and I’ve seen what Victoria, Andrew and the wee ones have been going through.
“I knew I had to do something. I wish I had the money to just get him on the plane to New York but I’ve got plenty of experience and plenty of contacts.
“I want to make everyone aware of this story. The guys at Scran have been great and we’re all set for Saturday. I don’t want it to be a one-off, though. I want to get other businesses involved.
“If businesses could donate their time and do their bit that would be great. Let’s wash cars every Saturday afternoon and get Calum the treatment he desperately needs.”
Talented Ross creates signs for shop windows and top tourist attractions up and down the country.
And he's even given Calum is his very own "Rae of Sunshine" light up sign which he hopes can brighten up his room or hospital bed.
Pamela Main, who owns Scran, says she wants Calum’s story to be the talk of the town and beyond.
Pamela said: “We’ve just all got to help this wee guy. We’ve got to try and do our bit and keep the momentum going. It’s time critical.
“I first heard about it when I came back from holiday and I instantly jumped on the bandwagon to help.
“We talk about him every day at Scran, about how we can help, but we need more local businesses to get involved. I want Calum Rae to be the name on everybody’s lips.
“We ran a special for him a few weeks ago and then a fruit cooler in his name last week. But we just need to keep the momentum going.
Punters will be able to pull up and get their car sparkling clean for £5 with each participant getting a free tea or coffee courtesy of Scran.
Pamela added: “We’re looking forward to the car wash. When I approached the football club they gave us their full backing.
“It’s become a wee committee over the last few weeks. Ross and a few volunteers are going to be doing the cars and Ashley Sim is helping to do online stuff, raffling off prizes and a tombola.”
Pamela hopes the appeal can stretch far and wide, and she’s also on the hunt for some VIPs to get involved.
She added: “I’ve emailed Gordon Ramsay, Ewan McVicar and Lorraine Kelly. I just want them to even tweet about Calum’s story, they have huge followings on social media. It’s a wee Scots guy who needs help, his family need our help.”
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