I am currently involved with a local children’s cancer charity. The charity is called Just Keep Swimming Yaya, Childhood Cancer Support http://www.justkeepswimmingyaya.com/

This charity was established by friends in memory of their daughter, Alexandra. She was diagnosed at the age of 11 with cancer and was given 3 months to live. However with treatment and her spirit, courage and determination Alexandra got to see her 16th birthday. Unfortunately Alexandra died shortly after her 16th birthday.

Towards the end of her life, Alexandra asked her dad to establish a charity in her memory. She explained to her dad that to her cancer was like a 3 sided dice, in that people either survived cancer, lived with cancer or died from cancer.

While Alexandra was sick she worked with and supported multiple charities. She also helped other children on their cancer journey. Just Keep Swimming Yaya has been established to continue her charitable work particularly in providing help and support to fathers of children impacted by cancer, as she seen this as an area needing addressed.

Alexandra was affectionately known as Yaya and lived by Dory’s motto of Just Keep Swimming (Finding Nemo film) and could see similarities with her own journey and the travels of Marlin and Dory, in their search for Nemo.

The charity was established shortly after Alexandra’s death and a not for profit social enterprise coffee shop has subsequently been opened, as both her parents are chefs.

Due to the link to Nemo and Dory, the charity want to place a marine tank in the coffee shop. We have spoken to a local shop who have provided us with a price for a tank and setup. The family are planning to save to pay for this themselves, however I feel that this is a key element of the charity and should come from charitable funds.

I therefore feel a good compromise would be fundraising specifically for the tank. I want this to be a surprise for the family and as such I have setup a personal JustGiving page. It would have been Alexandra's 18th birthday on New Year’s Day 2020 and it would be great to be able to have this in place for her birthday.

Thank you everyone for taking the time to read this post, whether you donate or not.

Keith