The 8^th July this year marks 10 years since the passing of a local Edinburgh boy, Craig Gowans, who aged 17, was tragically killed by overhead electric wires at the training grounds of Falkirk FC football club.

A charming and talented young boy, Craig touched the lives of many, including mine, and in his memory a number of Craig’s family and friends are making an attempt to break the Guiness world record for the longest 11 a side football match. The current record at 102 hours, was achieved by a group from Southampton just a few weeks ago, which would mean our attempt, originally expected to be 100 hours, would now need to exceed this – that’s 4 and a quarter days continuous football!

Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately for me, I am not able to take part in the actual game itself, however, I will be actively helping, motivating and supporting the group throughout the event at the Spartans FC and am keen to achieve my personal target fundraise of £1,000 to be donated to The Sick Kids Friends Foundation (to help build and equip the new sensory room for disabled and critically ill children at the new state-of-the-art children’s hospital being built at Little France) via The Craig Gowans Memorial Fund (CGMF). The CGMF has been active with a number of local charities in Edinburgh over the last 10 years and at a charity fund raise held in April I was personally able to see some of the excellent uses the donations have been expended on and some amazing pieces of medical equipment the CGMF has helped put in place. The one that touched me the most was a device for disabled children who previously had no means to communicate and express themselves to their parents, family and loved ones but were now able to write messages to these very people and to see them being able to do this, and the reactions of them and their loved ones for the first time in their lives was truly heart-warming.

The positive energy put into the community following this tragic day has been very inspiring and I’d be grateful if you could help me achieve my target with any donation, big or small, all to be used for an excellent cause! Anyone is also welcome to come down to Ainslie Park either just to spectate or you can sign up to volunteer towards a great cause too. (Please remember to mark the “Yes, add Gift aid” option)

For more info or to track the event:

Craig Gowan’s Memorial fund page inc info about the match: http://www.tcggwrm.org/the-cgmf/

Volunteer page: http://www.tcggwrm.org/volunteer/