Rob, Ilà, Lorne and I would like to thank everyone for your very kind messages of support and memories of Ciara, both over the years and at this very difficult time. We always knew Ciara was a very special person and it’s of great comfort to us to know so many people thought so too. She was a truly special person who met life head on with such optimism and enthusiasm; she will be forever missed but never ever forgotten.

As many of you will be aware last year Ciara was one of the faces of the Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity Annual Christmas Appeal which aimed to raise £200,000 to fund a neurosurgical endoscope, a challenge which she met with such enthusiasm and dedication. This culminated in a charity ball where Ciara, along with consultant neurosurgeon Roddy O’Kane was a guest speaker. It was with such pride and tears in our eyes that we watched her stand in front of over 500 people and tell the story of her journey and why people should be making a donation to such a worthy cause. We believe that the final sum raised from the 2016 appeal was far in excess of £300,000, which we’ve been told by the charity’s team was partly due in no small way to Ciara’s involvement. Photos of the charity ball can be found on the Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity website.

This year’s appeal will be to raise £500,000 to enhance the clinical trials centre, commonly known as Schiehallion, at the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow, where Ciara was a patient for over 12 years. Ciara’s long time ambition in life was to work for or run her own charity, she had even gone as far as choosing a name, Over The Rainbow. Whilst donations to this years appeal can be made directly to the charity, we thought that as a lasting memory to Ciara and helping her fulfil her ambition, it would be nice to raise some funds in her name which we can then donate collectively to this years appeal at the time of the 2017 Annual Charity Ball. With this in mind we have set up a JustGiving page in Ciara’s name called A Gift From Ciara

The target we have set is £25,000 which we’re hopeful we will be able to achieve with your support and love for our beautiful girl.

Finally, thank you for all your wonderful support for Ciara over the years, it has meant so much to us all.

Lloret