Callum Gray's Brick in The Sun
Donation protected
Sara’s Hope Foundation is an amazing charity and is very close to our family's hearts.
The charity funds a week in the sunshine at Sara’s Retreat in Crete for families from the UK who have been affected by childhood cancer, they fund flights and most holiday costs for the young person and their familiy. These youngsters really deserve and need a break away after spending so much of their young lives in hospital facing painful and intrusive tests, evasive surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, The charity provides 24 hour practical and emotional care for the family during their stay.
Since June 2011 the charity have sent 50 children living with cancer to Sara's Retreat and wish to continue to send more children in the future and help give more young people with cancer ......Smiles, Hope and Precious Memories xxx
The villas are currently rented and the charity is raising money to purchase the properties. £400,000 is needed and we ask for your support to help reach their target to enable this fantastic work to continue and help to give hope to future families who are faced with the horrendous evil of living with cancer.
We would like to do this in memory of Callum James Gray, who lost his brave battle against leukaemia on 29th December 2014 at the age of 18.
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Callum had a unique charm, a mischievous and wacky sense of humour, infectious laugh and always filled the room with sparkle. He lived life to the full and was always on the go. He loved sport and was an incredible athlete, being an accomplished sprinter, high jumper, free runner and a member of the school cheerleading stunt team. He also enjoyed playing American football, skateboarding, bmx biking and much more throughout his life.
Callum was a very talented musician, and would turn his hand to numerous instruments, especially his beloved drum kit.
He could play the piano, keyboard, guitar and cornet. He was a life-long member of St Laurence’s Church Lads’ and Girls’ Brigade and held the rank of sergeant, he was a member of the marching band and also the National Band. His dream was to join the Royal Marines Band of Music, he was planning to do his 2 year college course in Motor Vehicle Maintenance then hopefully follow his dream.
On the 8th January 2013, this dream was shattered when he was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia. His and our world was turned upside down. The Christie Hospital in Manchester was to be our 2nd home, where he received 3 lots of chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant with donated cells from his sister Jackie. Even on troubled days he would light up the ward and would banter with the nurses. Throughout treatment Callum never gave up hope, he was brave, courageous and a true inspiration. He always wore his cheeky grin, although we all knew he was putting on a brave face.
In September 2014, Callum and some of his family enjoyed a wonderful holiday provided by Sara’s Hope Foundation at Sara’s Retreat in Crete. We all had an amazing time and created some very precious memories, we built a special friendship with Sara’s family (Ged, Julie, Mark and Faye Hoburn) who run the charity and we have continued this bond since our return to England.
In November 2014, we were given the devastating news that the leukaemia had returned. Callum was offered a trial treatment but this was unsuccessful. He sadly lost his fight on 29th December 2014 surrounded by his loving family and 2 best friends and has left a massive hole which no-one can fill. He leaves behind his broken-hearted Mum Chris, Dad Dave, 3 sisters and a brother, Rachel 24, Jackie 23, Alex 20 and Isla 7, sister in law Charlotte 20, two nephews Lucas 2, Oliver 18 months and his two best mates Phil 20 and Alty 18.
We will always treasure special memories of Callum and hold him within our hearts xxxx
The charity funds a week in the sunshine at Sara’s Retreat in Crete for families from the UK who have been affected by childhood cancer, they fund flights and most holiday costs for the young person and their familiy. These youngsters really deserve and need a break away after spending so much of their young lives in hospital facing painful and intrusive tests, evasive surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, The charity provides 24 hour practical and emotional care for the family during their stay.
Since June 2011 the charity have sent 50 children living with cancer to Sara's Retreat and wish to continue to send more children in the future and help give more young people with cancer ......Smiles, Hope and Precious Memories xxx
The villas are currently rented and the charity is raising money to purchase the properties. £400,000 is needed and we ask for your support to help reach their target to enable this fantastic work to continue and help to give hope to future families who are faced with the horrendous evil of living with cancer.
We would like to do this in memory of Callum James Gray, who lost his brave battle against leukaemia on 29th December 2014 at the age of 18.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Callum had a unique charm, a mischievous and wacky sense of humour, infectious laugh and always filled the room with sparkle. He lived life to the full and was always on the go. He loved sport and was an incredible athlete, being an accomplished sprinter, high jumper, free runner and a member of the school cheerleading stunt team. He also enjoyed playing American football, skateboarding, bmx biking and much more throughout his life.
Callum was a very talented musician, and would turn his hand to numerous instruments, especially his beloved drum kit.
He could play the piano, keyboard, guitar and cornet. He was a life-long member of St Laurence’s Church Lads’ and Girls’ Brigade and held the rank of sergeant, he was a member of the marching band and also the National Band. His dream was to join the Royal Marines Band of Music, he was planning to do his 2 year college course in Motor Vehicle Maintenance then hopefully follow his dream.
On the 8th January 2013, this dream was shattered when he was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia. His and our world was turned upside down. The Christie Hospital in Manchester was to be our 2nd home, where he received 3 lots of chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant with donated cells from his sister Jackie. Even on troubled days he would light up the ward and would banter with the nurses. Throughout treatment Callum never gave up hope, he was brave, courageous and a true inspiration. He always wore his cheeky grin, although we all knew he was putting on a brave face.
In September 2014, Callum and some of his family enjoyed a wonderful holiday provided by Sara’s Hope Foundation at Sara’s Retreat in Crete. We all had an amazing time and created some very precious memories, we built a special friendship with Sara’s family (Ged, Julie, Mark and Faye Hoburn) who run the charity and we have continued this bond since our return to England.
In November 2014, we were given the devastating news that the leukaemia had returned. Callum was offered a trial treatment but this was unsuccessful. He sadly lost his fight on 29th December 2014 surrounded by his loving family and 2 best friends and has left a massive hole which no-one can fill. He leaves behind his broken-hearted Mum Chris, Dad Dave, 3 sisters and a brother, Rachel 24, Jackie 23, Alex 20 and Isla 7, sister in law Charlotte 20, two nephews Lucas 2, Oliver 18 months and his two best mates Phil 20 and Alty 18.
We will always treasure special memories of Callum and hold him within our hearts xxxx
Organizer
Chris Shuttler
Organizer