A GROUP of Dunoon Grammar School pupils have donated profits from a school art department enterprise project to help Aillidh Kinnaird after reading about the eight-year-old’s battle against leukaemia  in last week’s Dunoon Observer.

S1 classmates Holli Scott, Bethany Walsh, Amy McPherson, Hollie Deane, Georgia Young and Nicci Stewart (pictured above) found they had made £90 after making, and selling, Christmas cards in their art class. Bethany’s little sister, Aimy, is in Aillidh’s P4 class at Sandbank Primary School and nominated the Anthony Nolan Trust as the charity to receive the profit from their enterprise. The others readily agreed.

Art teacher Mrs Neish said: “I had asked the girls to decide on a charity they would like the profits to go to. I was very pleased with their choice as it is so personal and vital. My hope is that other groups may follow their lead and contribute to this pressing cause.”

The girls’ generosity is being repeated throughout Cowal.

The Scottish Blood Transfusion Service had a mobile unit in Dunoon this week and reported an ‘enormous’ number of people asking for information about being tested to see if their stem cells are a match for Aillidh. By the unit's second day in the town staff had run out of registration forms.

If a match can be found in the coming months, and the person is willing to donate stem cells or bone marrow, Aillidh’s life could be saved.

Aillidh’s mum Leigh spent last weekend at home while huband Andrew stayed with Aillidh in Yorkhill. She said: “Her counts continue to rise, in prepartion for her next, third, round of chemo. We continue to pray for her strength and of course, the all-important donor who can give her the best chance of long-term survival. She is her old self for now, the plucky little girl we love so much. Thank you all for bringing awareness to her plight and those of so many others waiting for a match.”

On Wednesday evening Aillidh’s mum said: “Aillidh got to go outside today. Please pray that her count is up because then she can have a week at home. Isn't that good news for this evening?”

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