An 11-year-old girl from Brechin is planning a fundraiser this week as part of Big Yellow Friday, the annual awareness and fundraising day for Children’s Liver Disease Foundation (now merged with British Liver Trust). The charity is a special one to Fearne as it provided her family with information and support when she became very ill at the age of six.
“Fearne had been a perfectly healthy little girl when one Saturday morning, she started vomiting blood – it was just terrifying” says her mum, Susan Tough. “We were rushed to our local hospital but after a few days we had to be transferred to the specialist children’s liver unit at King’s College Hospital, London.
“It was at Kings that Fearne was diagnosed with portal hypertension caused by a portal vein thrombosis. And it was also here that we first found out about Children’s Liver Disease Foundation because doctors handed us their leaflets which helped us to understand Fearne’s condition. I then contacted the Foundation who were by our family’s side at a really difficult time.
“After several banding procedures and more severe bleeds, Fearne underwent major surgery in 2022 to bypass the blood clot in her portal vein. Happily, it was a success and now she is keeping well and attends our local hospital in Dundee for regular check-ups.
“I know, however, that this charity will continue to be there for Fearne as she grows up and I’d like to think that any family who goes through what we did will have that support. It’s why we’re joining in with Big Yellow Friday on March 13.
“We’re organising a coffee afternoon at Jars Community Hub in Brechin, from 3pm to 6pm. There will be a raffle, face painting for the children, a poetry reading from my friend, and a spiritual medium offering readings.
“Fearne attends Maisondieu Primary School in Brechin who are fundraising for several charities that day, and we’re delighted that Big Yellow Friday is one of the causes they are supporting. We just want as many people as possible to join in, have fun and raise funds for a charity who really are there for families in their hour of need.”
Michelle Wilkins, Head of Children and Families Services at British Liver Trust, commented: “We’ve been supporting Fearne and her family for several years now so the fact that she and Susan are joining in with Big Yellow Friday means a lot to us. It’s also brilliant that her school are joining in, as a supportive school environment makes a huge difference to a child with a liver condition. The funds they raise on the day will help us make a real difference to young people and their families around the UK and we can’t wait to hear how it all goes!”
You can support Big Yellow Friday by going to Big Yellow Friday | Children’s Liver Disease Foundation
