Grand days out are gifts for children with cancer

Children battling cancer are being given the chance to enjoy a fun day out thanks to the team at intu Braehead shopping centre.

The Renfrew mall has donated £500 worth of intu gift cards to the Hamish Dear’s Warm Hugs charity, which provides free days out and short breaks for patients being treated at the Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow.

The charity was set up by Hollie Dear, 29, and 34-year-old husband Kris, whose son Hamish bravely fought neuroblastoma cancer for nine months, but sadly passed away in November 2015, aged just three.

The couple, from Aberdeenshire, were by Hamish’s side as he spent most of his last nine months in the hospital.

Now other families in similar positions can enjoy time together at Braehead’s shops, cafes and restaurants, cinema, tenpin bowling and sledging at Soar.

“We have happy memories of being out and about with Hamish and not just being stuck in the hospital ward, and we want other families to experience this as well.

“We want them to make their own happy memories, just like we did with Hamish.”

Braehead’s community development manager Lydia Brown added: “The donation from our intu Braehead community fund is definitely money well spent, and we hope the youngsters and the families who benefit by coming along to the mall and enjoying our many leisure attractions at Soar.”