Thanks for taking the time to visit our JustGiving page.‘Robbie Runners’ are Lorraine, Sarah & Emma Jayne. We are running the Decathlon Half Marathon in September in memory of Robbie Mc Caw and would appreciate any donations. This is Robbie’s story

Robbie was diagnosed at the age 6 with a Brain Stem Tumour in 1991. . Radiotherapy shrank a portion of the remaining tumour but some still remained. Robbie’s family where told he had a 25% chance of surviving for 5 years. Against the odds Robbie studied at Methodist College and achieved a place at Kings College Aberdeen to study Psychology. He was aged 19 and had lived successfully with a brain tumour for 13 years

In 2009 Robbie achieved a 2.2 Honours Degree in Psychology and it was during that time that he began experiencing a tingling feeling in his left side, with weakness and had been waiting for a scan in Belfast.

Robbie decided he would like to do a further degree in Psychiatric Nursing at Queens University Belfast and was to attend an interview in March 2010.Whilst he was waiting he worked on a voluntary basis in the Oxfam shop in Holywood and in Cancer Focus helping with administration. He enjoyed working in both venues but by now he was suffering from acute nausea and the tingling had progressed to numbness. He finally received a scan in early March which showed the tumour was active. Surgery was planned for 14 April 2010. The neurosurgeon was able to remove only some of the tumour and it had changed form. It had become highly aggressive, and was growing very quickly. Robbie decided that his quality of life was more important to him and refused further surgery. Robbie never gave up on the present. When he couldn’t write he practiced and practiced to try to keep this skill. When finally he couldn’t walk he accepted a wheelchair and at a party held by Marcus, one of his friends and Emma Jayne’s brother, he wanted to dance so he did with his upper body as he was being whirled around the floor in his wheelchair. He even stood for awhile and tried to dance. This was September 2010.

On Friday 23 October 2010 Robbie suffered a stroke. Always thinking of everyone else his final words to his Mother were, “I’m sorry”. He was taken to intensive care at the Royal Hospital and like angels the staff looked after him and his family until he died in early hours of Monday morning 25 October 2010.

At his Thanksgiving service his friend Chris, Curator of the church said we could learn three things from Robbie’s life.

To be Thankful.

To Slow Down

To Look at the Wider Picture