2025 Winner
THE SPEIRS FAMILY
Built a network of holiday homes and flats in memory of their son Calum, supporting the families of more than 3000 children with cancer.
When their son and Jenna’s twin brother Calum died of an inoperable brain tumour in 2007 aged just 12, his parents and sister were determined to fulfil his dying wish – building a holiday home where other families of children diagnosed with cancer could spend time and create precious memories.
Calum’s Cabin, complete with a stained glass window of Calum’s favourite hobbies, was opened in 2009 and Calum’s mum, Caroline, 58, dad Duncan, 63 and twin sister Jenna, 30, have gone on to set up six more holiday homes across Scotland.
In 2017, ten years after Calum died, they opened their first flat in Glasgow where families can stay while their child receives cancer treatment in hospital, and home is hundreds of miles away.
They now have 12 flats, and through their charity, the Speirs family support 220 families every year, and in total have helped more than 3,000.
As well as a warm comfortable place to stay, the family, from Rothesay, pay for their utilities, provide food and other needs so they can concentrate on being there for their sick child.
Jenna, who says she lost half of herself when her twin passed away, works as a Therapeutic Radiographer so she can give her own support to families as they go through the most difficult time of their lives.
She said: “I’m now a radiographer because of Calum, and he pushes me to be a better version of myself in every way – I just ran the London Marathon for him and Calum’s Cabin, and I’m not even a big runner.
“Calum was an inspiration to me and everyone who knew him, and he thought of others right until the end. I’ve lost count of the number of people who have asked their child where in the world they’d like to go after treatment finishes, their little one replies, ‘Calum’s Cabin’. They are offered the world and they want to come to Bute – how magical is that.”
Caroline added: “We love what we do and we love knowing that Calum is with us every step of the way. Even when we have days that don’t go to plan, we know it’s just Calum playing one of his tricks on us and say ‘Calum’s having a right laugh today’ – he was a wee joker.