An inspirational young boy who battled cancer is attending the Sick Kids Friends Foundation’s (SKFF) sixteenth annual Carols for Christmas event next week and will read a special self-penned poem.
Ten-year-old Noah Duncan attended Edinburgh’s Royal Hospital for Sick Children (RHSC) where he received treatment following his diagnosis of cancer of the soft-tissues behind the eye.
During his life-saving surgery, the little boy lost his left eye and orbit – the fatty tissue surrounding the eye. Since then he has been working with the hospital’s creative writer, and with the help of his Mum and sister, has prepared a reading which portrays his experiences, thoughts and memories of the hospital.
Noah will be joining a host of well-known Scottish celebrities to enjoy the magical festive event on Tuesday 10 December at St Cuthbert’s Church, in the capital.
Actresses Una McLean, Eileen McCallum and Siobhan Redmond will take the stage along with BBC broadcaster Sally McNair and comic Fred MacAulay.
Noah’s dad Aaron said: “Noah’s positivity and outlook on life is nothing short of inspirational. He has used his own experience to enrich the lives of others, working with charitable organisations like the Sick Kids Friends Foundation and Cancer Research.
“Last year, only a matter of weeks after his surgery, Noah defied all odds and took part in a 1.5km marathon race.”
Aaron continued: “I nominated Noah for an accolade at the Sick Kids Heroes Awards at the start of the year. We were so proud when he was announced as a runner-up.
“As a family, he has shown us the way forward on his journey with cancer and despite everything he has seen and faced, he still enjoys his childhood. We’ll be very proud to watch him perform his reading with his sister, Hannah and creative writer, Linda Cracknell.”
The magical festive evening will also host music from the Dalkeith and Monktonhall Brass Band, the Edinburgh Academy Chamber Choir, and for the first time ever the Sick Kids Community Choir.
Children from the RHSC nursery will spread festive cheer by performing a nativity scene in the church. This will be followed by mince pies and a glass of wine.
Maureen Harrison, chief executive of the Sick Kids Friends Foundation, said: “We are delighted to invite Noah and the rest of the Duncan family along to help celebrate this magical time of year with us.
“This is one of the most exciting events on our festive calendar. We’re now instead sixteenth year of the SKFF’s Carols for Christmas and it is sure to get our audience into the Christmas spirit.
“Funds raised at the carol service will help us continue to provide services out with NHS provisions, like our creative writer programme.
“Resident writer Linda Cracknell has been a fundamental investment teaching the children about the skills of her trade through workshops and lessons actively encouraging our young patients including Noah to have a creative outlet.”
Carols for Christmas will take place on 10 December from 6.30pm until 8pm at St. Cuthbert’s Parish Church, Lothian Road.
John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.
