Christmas carols for Aila

THE strength of character shown by a brave little girl will shine through at a festive fundraiser in Moray.

Aila Coull died in September, holding her parents’ hands, aged just 16 months after a brave battle with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML).

Her parents, Sine and Fraser, who live in Elgin, have set up a foundation in her memory to fund better treatments for other youngsters.

Bone marrow transplant is a crucial part of the treatment required for AML and Anthony Nolan worked tirelessly to find a match for Aila but she never got the chance to use any of the matches they found. Finding a good donor match can be difficult for some so the family are urging as many people as possible to go on the register.

Their appeal will get a boost before Christmas when Moray Concert Brass stages its annual charity concert at Elgin Cathedral.

All proceeds from "Carols at the Cathedral" on Saturday, December 22 will go to the Aila Coull Foundation.

Leader Glenn Munro said Aila’s "gentle but strong nature" had been an inspiration to her parents and others.

She had been diagnosed in March this year and after five months of gruelling chemotherapy, a genetic mutation saw her condition deteriorate and she died on September 2.

Sine, a former member of the band, said they were delighted that the concert will raise money and awareness for the foundation.

The Aila Coull Foundation has its own Facebook page, which has received over 1,300 likes in little over a month, where updates and messages can be posted.

Log on to www.facebook.com/theailacoullfoundation.

The cathedral gates will open at 5.30pm on December 22, with the concert starting at 6pm.

If you are interested in having Moray Concert Brass perform at an event or would like to sponsor the band, you can contact the band through Facebook, by email at mcb_news@yahoo.co.uk or by calling 07979 991929.

For more on this story and another magical fundraiser by Moray Concert Brass, see the print version of 'The Northern Scot'.