Barrhead mum who lost daughter aims to raise CHD awareness

Cat Weaver is hoping to shine a light on CHD following the death of Mirin-Hope Wales on Thursday, January 17, for Heart Awareness Month, which runs throughout February. 

The 10-year-old had six open heart surgeries and an open-heart transplant in 2014 at the age of six.

Cat,41, is now planning a fundraising night for Beads of Courage UK, which helps children with serious illnesses record their journeys through collecting colourful beads.

And she has gained the support of her brother Graham, who is raising cash in any way he can at the gym he owns in Hillington called Origins Fitness & Evolution. 

He is already donating all the money from the vending machine to the charity, and cash from anyone who joins up in February will go straight to the cause.

Cat told the Barrhead News: “We had lots planned with a fundraising night with one of my friends who had a heart attack – we were going to do a split between the British Heart Foundation and Beads of Courage but with Mirin passing it has knocked us.

“It will be definitely done later on in the year. My middle daughter, Rowan, will also be organising something when she goes back to school.

“Over the years we have taken part in various sponsored events and my brother, Graham, owns a gym. We buy the water that’s in the vending machine, and any money that we get from that goes into Beads of Courage UK.

“He does a lot of things in the gym as well. In February, anyone who joins up or does a pay as you go membership, that money will all go into Beads of Courage UK.”

Cat is also backing Holyrood’s push for people living in Scotland to be automatically added to the organ donation register. 

Mirin-Hope was only able to have a transplant after a 30-year-old woman died and became a donor.

A fundraising campaign in Mirin-Hope’s memory has generated more than £5,000, which will all go to Beads of Courage UK.

To donate, visit www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/mirin-hope-beads-of-courage