Rebecca's Story

When 17-year-old Rebecca Dalgleish from East Lothian was diagnosed with terminal cancer, she didn't retreat into despair or allow her devastating prognosis to completely shatter her world.

Instead, the inspirational teenager chose to focus on living. Rebecca created her own bucket list filled with wonderful things she still wanted to experience, including "going on a trip somewhere hot and sunny", as well as doing a bungee jump and a skydive.

Determined to make every moment count, Rebecca set up a JustGiving page and channelled her energy into fundraising for Children's Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS). Inviting others to donate, she wrote:

"My name is Rebecca. I am 17 and have cancer. Unfortunately, I've recently been told my case is terminal. Although this news isn't the best it has encouraged me to raise money for CHAS which has done lots for me in the past, so I therefore wanted to return the favour by doing some fundraising for them. Even though I have cancer, there is lots I still want to achieve in my life. Time left to have fun, make plans and to live."

Alongside her fundraising, Rebecca spent the remaining 11 months of her life trying to change public perceptions of hospices and hospice care through her personal online blog. She wanted people to see that hospices are places filled with love, laughter and life.

She said: "Occasionally hospices have their sad points, as most would expect. However, most of the time there is laughing, playing, decorating and doing activities such as storytelling and t-shirt styling. Children and adults are happy here at Rachel House, making the hospice not really fit its stereotype."

Explaining her motivation for fundraising, Rebecca added: "For myself I know the best thing for me is to stay positive and knowing that my fundraising will be doing so much good for others helps me stay content and happy."

Her words touched hearts across her community and beyond. Donations soon poured in from schools, scout groups, rotary clubs and organisations across the country. Rebecca had hoped to raise £5,000, but she far exceeded that target, raising an incredible £61,000 for CHAS before she sadly died in 2015.

Rebecca's diagnosis

In spring 2014, Rebecca visited her doctor after experiencing severe pain in her back, leg and foot. She was training to run the Scottish Half Marathon at the time and was initially misdiagnosed with a lower back injury. When the pain worsened, an MRI revealed a malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumour (MPNST) in her pelvis, requiring emergency treatment.

Rebecca's mum Pam recalls: "We were all devastated and in shock. Rebecca had always been our 'healthy' child who helped take care of her little brother Robbie who was severely mentally and physically disabled. To now have two seriously ill children to care for was a lot to come to terms with."

Over the following months, Rebecca endured intensive chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Despite treatment, scans showed the tumour continued to grow. In December, she was told there was nothing more that could be done to stop it.

Pam said: "It was just devastating. Rebecca had such a bright future ahead of her. She was a kind-hearted, thoughtful and intelligent girl with a keen interest in history and politics. She was delighted to be able to vote for the first time in the 2014 Scottish Referendum, aged 17. She always liked to help make a difference in the world."

Discovering Rachel House

Rebecca first visited CHAS's Rachel House in February 2015 after self-referring from her hospital bed. Pam added: "She did all her own research and found out all about it and decided herself this was where she wanted to go. That's just the sort of girl she was."

Despite being very unwell, staff were able to manage Rebecca's pain so she could enjoy simple pleasures like bowling, relaxing in the jacuzzi and even feeling snowfall in the hospice gardens.

Rebecca later wrote on her blog: "CHAS's Rachel House provides such an amazing service! Even at the saddest times in the hospice they manage to make the sunshine in some way. They will do anything for a needy child in their care."

Pam remembers how staff went above and beyond, even arranging prom dresses for Rebecca to choose from so she could attend her school prom.

"She always said she was happy at Rachel House and that it was a place full of laughter and fun."

Making memories and saying goodbye

Rebecca managed to tick off many bucket list dreams, including meeting Olly Murs, receiving a video from McBusted and making precious family memories on trips to Spain and Edinburgh hotels.

In November 2015, Rebecca was admitted to St Columba's Hospice in Edinburgh, where she died peacefully on December 3, aged just 18, with her parents by her side. The family honoured her wish by spending Christmas at Rachel House.

Pam said: "We were all heartbroken, but it felt right to be in the place Rebecca loved so much for Christmas."

A lasting legacy

Since Rebecca's death, her family have raised a further £30,000 for CHAS, bringing the total to over £90,000.

Pam shared: "She was determined to make every moment count and her legacy of turning personal hardship into a lifeline for CHAS children and families will live on."

Rebecca's legacy continues to inspire, a reminder of how one young person's courage can make a lasting difference.