Children’s cancer charity thanks Kirkcaldy firefighters for special day at the fire station
On Saturday, 21 September, Green Watch Kirkcaldy hosted a Team Jak pop-up event.
A pop-up event for a children’s cancer charity was hosted by Kirkcaldy Community Fire Station last month.
Team Jak offers emotional and practical support to children and their families across Scotland following a cancer diagnosis.
To celebrate Team Jak’s ten-year anniversary, the team at Kirkcaldy Fire Station were asked to host a pop-up event, reaching out to communities who can’t make it to their “Den” in Livingston or Aberdeen.
Watch Commander Tom Stafford hosted the event on Saturday, 21 September, following his own personal experience with the organisation.
Tom said: “I got involved with this charity when my granddaughter Aila was diagnosed with stage four cancer at just 14-months-old.
“They were invaluable to our family, not only whilst Aila was going through chemotherapy, but in the months and years since she finished treatment.
“It was an honour to be able to host families going through their own cancer journey and be able to help them forget their worries for just one day by having lots of fun in the fire station.”
“All of our inspirational young people and their families had the best time and we are so very grateful for everything the crew did to make it such a special day."
Allison Barr, CEO and co-founder of Team Jak
Over 30 people attended, and kids enjoyed sitting in the fire engines and soaking the crew in the ‘It’s a Knockout’ water-based game.
A cheque for £500 was presented to Team Jak, following a collection from Firefighters from all over Fife.
Watch Commander Stafford’s family have since participated in the Kiltwalk to raise money for the charity and have recently been awarded ‘Family of the Year’ by the organisation following their ongoing support.
Allison Barr is the Chief Executive and Co-Founder of Team Jak. Allison co-founded the charity following her son Jak’s terminal cancer diagnosis at 15-years-old.
She said: “Thank you so much to Tommy Stafford and the crew for making our day at Kirkcaldy Fire Station very special.
“All of our inspirational young people and their families had the best time and we are so very grateful for everything the crew did to make it such a special day.
“It was even more special as it would have been Jak's 25th birthday and Jak loved fire engines as a wee boy.
“His Granma also used to be the Fife firemasters secretary and his Great Grandpa was a Firefighter, so lots of special links to Kirkcaldy and poignant it was on 21 September.
“Thank you to everyone who made it so very special.”