HEALTH and social care students from West College Scotland raised hundreds of pounds to help young cancer sufferers.

As part of their ‘improving wellbeing’ unit, the level four students at the Greenock campus were asked to investigate factors and behaviours that can be changed to improve the quality of people’s lives.

This led them to examine aspects of care for people with illnesses, and prompted them to hold a fundraising event for a charity of their choice.

They picked Calum’s Cabin, which provides a holiday home on Bute for children with cancer and their carers, and is named after Calum Speirs, a 12-year-old Rothesay boy who passed away from a brain tumour in 2007.

Students raised £450 from a cake sale and a tombola with prizes provided by CalMac, the Beacon and Mecca bingo.

Student Amanda MacLeod said Calum’s Cabin fitted in well with their project She said: “It was really nice to meet the family behind the charity. I have a son the same age Calum was when he lost his fight, which really brought it home to me. It was a great feeling to hand over the money knowing the difference it would make to others.” The fund has since been boosted to £562 by a group of the students walking the West Highland Way, including 23-year-old John McFarlane from Gourock.

John said: “I take part in a lot of charity work, so tying in the walk with the work we were doing in class seemed like the perfect opportunity.” The students were joined by Calum’s mum, Caroline Speirs, at the Waterfront campus, where they presented her with a cheque.

Caroline said: “As a charity solely run on donations, we are forever grateful for the fundraising that people do.

“Raising this amount of money will allow a family to stay at the cabin in Bute for a week, giving them respite and quality time as a family to make irreplaceable memories.”