Almost £100,000 has been raised to mark what would have been the 21st birthday of an inspirational Elgin teenager.
Abbie Main died from cancer on Christmas Day 2017 when she was just 15 years old.
Before her death she laid the foundations of a charity to help children facing the same battle she did.
Every year Abbie’s Sparkle Foundation supports hundreds of families with treats, known as “sparkles”, so they can enjoy quality time together.
Now phenomenal efforts to celebrate what would have been Abbie’s 21st birthday mean hundreds more will be supported as the teen wanted.
How does Abbie’s Sparkle Foundation help families?
When Abbie devised the charity she gave it the mission of helping with “hospitals and stuff”.
What that has translated to from the mind of the teenager is special bags of treats and vouchers delivered to children in hospital in Inverness, Aberdeen, Glasgow and Edinburgh while they receive treatment.
However, the charity is also committed to ensuring families get the chance to create special memories together.
Individual sparkles have included days out, insurance for holidays, shopping trips and special gifts.
The charity also runs a special holiday home, christened the Sparkle Lodge, at Dalraddy Holiday Park near Aviemore for families to have breaks.
How supporters raised amazing total for Abbie’s 21st birthday
Abbie’s friends and family spent two years putting together a special celebration to mark her 21st.
After missing the chance to put on a bash for her 18th due to Covid, they were determined to make it a night to remember.
Abbie’s best friend Emma Whitton, who she devised the charity with, and her own mum Christine Whitton organised the Mansefield Hotel event that raised a massive £37,000.
Rising West End star Carys Taylor even travelled from London for the event to perform a song from the musical Wicked.
Tammy Main, Abbie’s mum, said: “It’s where we held Abbie’s celebration of life, so it always means a lot for us to go back there.
“The public always support us so much. We know times are difficult with the cost-of-living crisis but people are still so generous.”
However, the mission doesn’t stop for Abbie’s Sparkle Foundation with supporters already putting together special Christmas and Easter “sparkle bags” for children in hospital across Scotland.
Special sparkle challenge
Lauren Donald, who lives near Inverurie, spent more than a year completing 21 eyewatering challenges to support Abbie’s Sparkle Foundation.
The beauty therapist set herself the incredible target after meeting Abbie’s parents Tammy and Russell and being moved by their story.
The mum-of-two, who is a trustee of the charity, raised a massive £54,000 for the charity by completing triathlons, doing the Banchory Beast race and even walking barefoot over Lego among other events.
She said: “It’s amazing that Abbie thought about setting up all of this when she was just 15 with everything she was going through.
“Abbie was only a kid at the time. I can’t even imagine a child that age being so selfless at that time.
“It’s something I like my kids being a part of too, showing them they’re able to do something to help other children.”
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