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‘The Craig Gowans Memorial Fund’
The ‘Craig Gowans Memorial Fund’ was established in April 2007. The motivation at the heart of this charitable fund was to ensure that Craig would be used as a driving force for good. In order to raise awareness for the fund, seven of Craig’s close friends ran the Edinburgh marathon. Please visit the following website to view the tremendous success of this event:
https://sickkids.workwithus.org/Fundraising/Donate.aspx?page=1269
Following the success of the marathon an annual 5-aside football tournament was launched in June 2008. Thirty two teams from across Scotland were invited to participate, the response was overwhelming. Through these events the ‘Craig Gowans Memorial Fund’ has raised in excess of £12,000, which has been used to support charities such as C.H.A.S, the Chesney Trust and the Sick Kids. Money has also helped towards funding the Sick Kids Friends Foundation’s new community projects. This project is aimed at helping children within deprived areas of Edinburgh and the Lothians, as well as providing help and advice out of the hospital setting. Furthermore, ‘The Craig Gowans Memorial Fund’ has financially contributed towards state of the art educational facilities for children and young adults in Malawi.
As well as raising funding for charity, there are several tributes associated with Stewarts Melville College and the University of Stirling. On an annual basis, pupils from Stewarts Melville College have the opportunity to compete for prizes such as the ‘Craig Gowans Memorial Prize for All-Round Academic Ability and Sporting Achievement,’ ‘Craig Gowans Memorial Prize for Outstanding Ability at Art and Design’ and finally the ‘Craig Gowans Memorial Prize for Outstanding Ability at Football’.
Pertaining to the University of Stirling, a scholarship programme has been formed that allows talented young footballers to combine their sport with a university degree. Scholarship players will benefit from up to £2,500.00 a year throughout their degree, which will cover the cost of essential requirements including accommodation and equipment. Most recently, in August 2008 the University of Stirling along with George Burley launched the opening of the ‘Craig Gowans Football Centre’ describing it as “a terrific tribute to Craig” and that “Gowans’ legacy is more than just bricks and mortar, it is present in the spirit with which Stirling scholars play the game.”
A group of Craig’s close friends and family have decided to add to this inspiring list of endeavours by running ‘The Bupa Great Edinburgh Run’ on the 3rd May 2009. The course covers a distance of 10km and takes in some of Edinburgh’s most famous sites. However, this is no ordinary run. Instead of having the luxury of sportswear, we shall be running the full race in fancy dress. We have decided that a Walt Disney theme would be most appropriate given the charity we are supporting.
All of the proceeds for this run shall be donated to ‘Children 1st’. This organisation exists to prevent cruelty to children, support families under stress, protect children from harm and neglect, help them recover from abuse and promote their rights and interests. Through partnerships with the government, the public and with their volunteers and the families they help, Children 1st aim to bring their vision of a happy, healthy, safe and secure childhood for every child and young person in Scotland closer to reality.
Please donate all you can and forward this link onto anyone you know who may wish to support a great cause!
Thank you in advance for your support!
UPDATE: The run was a complete success and everyone managed to finish in under 1 hour. A massive thank you to everybody who has donated to this extremely worthwhile cause and of course to those who took the time and effort to participate. You should all be proud in knowing that we raised well over our target and that Craig's name lives on through projects which are going to change the lives of others for the better! Please visit the following link for photographs of all the runners in their costumes: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=56062373461