Charity event in memory of West Lothian teen nets £160,000

Dec 31 2008 by Marjorie Kerr, West Lothian Courier

A CHARITY event in memory of an inspirational West Lothian teenager has raised more than £160,000.

Kind-hearted Alan Biggar completed a challenge of a lifetime, driving 2000 miles across the UK in his vintage Morgan Plus 4 sports car to raise money for the Remember Zoe Fund, in aid of Teenage Cancer Trust.

And a whopping £100,000 was raised before Alan had even driven a mile.

The 55-year-old investment manager, head of the Edinburgh Office of Brewin Dolphin’s Bell Lawrie Division, decided to embark on his drive following the death of a colleague’s 17-year-old daughter, Zoe King, from cancer in September last year.

Zoe died just days short of her 18th birthday after the brave youngster from Uphall lost her three-year battle with soft tissue sarcoma.

The former Broxburn Academy pupil was a keen fundraiser for Teenage Cancer Trust and inspired others due to her positive attitude throughout her illness.

Alan, from North Berwick, went down the east side of the UK on the first leg of his journey and then over to the Channel Islands.

He then headed to Dumfries, over to Belfast and then Glasgow, up to Inverness, finishing off in Elgin, Aberdeen, Dundee and finally back to Edinburgh.

Alan said: “Drive for Zoe is a fitting tribute to a very special person.

“When I set off on June 15 I had already raised £100,000 for Teenage Cancer Trust. On my return two weeks later this had risen to £130,000.

“Although that was the actual drive over, I kept the fund open until a Teenage Cancer Trust dinner in Edinburgh on December 5. I am delighted to say my final total came to £163,679.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed working with Teenage Cancer Trust and would like to thank everybody who supported Drive for Zoe very sincerely.

“Zoe King was a very special person and her mother Sharon has played a hugely important role in this fundraising, in Zoe's memory.”

The journey lasted two weeks and Alan drove his 50-year-old car around all 39 Brewin Dolphin offices.

The money raised by staff and clients from Brewin Dolphin offices from around the country, went towards Teenage Cancer Trust’s Remember Zoe appeal.

The appeal has three goals: fund-raising for Teenage Cancer Trust’s units at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children and Western General Hospital, and also for the Better Wigs campaign for teenagers treated in Edinburgh who lose their hair during chemotherapy.

Work on Edinburgh’s first Teenage Cancer Trust (TCT) unit at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children is set to begin in spring next year and it should be open in July.

The new unit will care for 13- to 16-year-olds being treated for cancer and its design is unlike any other regular hospital ward.