Size matters for charity inspired by the boy who liked to think big

AFTER the heartbreak of losing her teenage son to a rare and aggressive blood cancer, Allison Barr could have let grief consume her.

But instead, the 47-year-old from Mid Calder, West Lothian, has dedicated herself to preserving his unselfish legacy.

Caring schoolboy Jak Trueman’s ambition was to create a safe haven where young people with cancer could receive emotional support and sensory therapy, while socialising like normal teenagers without fear of infection.

Now his mum is setting about fulfilling his vision, with Jak’s Den already a huge success and a fundraising drive to secure larger premises well under way.

The youngster came up with the plan after he was diagnosed with gamma-delta T-cell lymphoma in 2014.

“Jak said, ‘What’s missing is a place where young people can go and just feel normal’,” explained Allison.

“He was stuck in hospital for 14 weeks and made a checklist of everything it should have.”

Before his diagnosis, Jak had been a typical, active, healthy teenager.

He was goalkeeper for his local football team, played tuba in the school band and was working towards his Duke of Edinburgh Awards.

But after what doctors initially thought was a virus led to him coughing up blood, he was rushed to hospital and put into an induced coma.

Medics discovered that Jak had an extremely rare blood cancer and he was given a year to live.

“When he found out he cried for five minutes then turned round and said to me, ‘Don’t go moping about mum, make sure you’re happy’,” recalled Allison.

“It was phenomenal how Jak thought of others. Almost from day one, he wanted to help other people. If he hadn’t given me permission to carry on and be happy I probably would have been an absolute mess but he charged me with this amazing task.”

Before losing his battle with the disease in February 2015, the kind-hearted 15-year-old generated £60,000 for leukaemia and lymphoma charities and raised awareness of the condition.

But he wanted to do more by creating a non-clinical space for young patients.

Two years ago, Allison ensured her son’s dream became a reality with the launch of Jak’s Den in Geddes House, Livingston.

The charity supports 64 families but demand has grown so much that it desperately needs to expand.

Allison and her team have now launched an ambitious campaign to secure £180,000 to build Jak’s Den Mark 2. They have signed a lease on a property in Ochil House in Livingston, and have already raised almost half of the £300,000 required.

Three times the size of the current operation, the new facility will follow Jak’s vision and will offer music therapy, media zones and soft play.

There will also be an outdoor space which Allison hopes will feature therapy and counselling pods, as well as an angel garden where relatives can go to remember loved ones.

“A lot of children can’t go to soft play areas, because the risk of infection could literally kill them,” said Allison.

“You can see the relief on parents’ faces when they walk in because they’re in a place where everyone understands.

“The kids can receive a range of support, from music and play to counselling, and parents can get some peace and quiet. Hopefully when they come through that door they feel part of a very special family.

“But we’ve really outgrown the current space.”

Allison, who now works full-time running Jak’s Den, says her son remains the true driving force behind the project.

“He’s part of everything we do in the den,” added Allison. “If I’m having a bad day I think of what he went through and what he wants for others.

“He’d be over the moon with the plans for the new project. He’d give it a big thumbs up.”

Last year, Jak’s legacy was celebrated at The Broons Awards where his relatives won the family of the year award.

To support the new Jak’s Den, visit: mydonate.bt.com/events/jaksden180000