Did you know Allister Boyd?
Allister Boyd, from Stair in Ayrshire, had been battling cancer apparently successfully since October 2005, only to be told in August of 2008 that his latest brain tumour was inoperable and his illness was now terminal. The devastating diagnosis made nineteen year old Allister determined to leave his mark on the world. More than anything he wanted to help other teenagers by easing their fears of serious illness and educating them about how best to deal with it. He was also determined to raise money for the Teenage Cancer Trust after being treated in the unit in at the Beatson in Glasgow, which treats young people aged 16 - 24. Allister’s ultimate goal was to raise enough money to build a unit for teenagers aged 13 to 16 at Yorkhill hospital, to prevent them having to be treated in a children’s ward with toddlers and babies.
Allister said, "When traumatic things are happening to you, every little bit of comfort is reassuring. I want to help fund more TCT units for others who will come this way after me."
Allister sadly passed away on April 4, 2009. He loved speaking at conferences, schools and charity events. He inspired so many people to help him raise funds for the Teenage Cancer Trust and for CLIC Sargent.
Allister is fondly remembered. There is a rather special memorial to his memory in Alloway. David B Smith writes about that here, or click on The Curling History Blog link on the right.
