Abby given honour for her bravery!

King’s Park pupil to carry baton

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A brave King’s Park Secondary pupil has been chosen to be a Baton Bearer for the Queen’s BatonRelay at this year’s Commonwealth Games after raising over £20,000 for charity.

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Abby Louise Tombs(16) was nominated for the honour due to her tireless charity work over the years.

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The Queen’s Baton Relay, similar to the Olympic Torch Relay, is a relay around the world held prior to the beginning of the Commonwealth Games.

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Abby has suffered from Lupus since she was nine-years-old. Lupus is an autoimmune condition, which means it is caused by problems with the immune system.

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In people with lupus, for reasons not clearly understood, the immune system starts to attack healthy cells, tissue and organs. In Abby’s case, it is attacking her kidneys.

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However, in the six years since her diagnosis Abby has selflessly raised funds for Yorkhill Children Hospital, Kidney ResearchUK and Lupus UK.

Her fundraising endeavours have included organising Hallowe’en parties, five-a-side competitions, charity race nights and sponsored walks to name but a few.

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Abby will find out four weeks before the baton arrives in her area what part of the route she will be doing.

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Her dad David said the teenager was delighted after hearing she had been picked: “She’s over the moon, she’s very excited.

“Abby continues to struggle on a day to day basis, she has a great bunch of friends support her she still continues to surprise her family and friends in the stuff she does for charity.

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“Abby attends her local Lupus group Strathclyde Lupus Group although being the youngest in the group she keep them all going with her determination to succeed.”

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You can see Abby’s fundraising activities by logging on to her Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/AbbysLupusPage

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Story by Will Henshaw,

Rutherglen Reformer.