Bute's Jenna Speirs' Olympic Torch joy
8 February
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Proud: Jenna (left, pictured with dad Duncan, late brother Calum and mum Caroline) has been shortlisted to carry the Olympic Torch
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Memories: The Speirs’ family run Calum’s Cabin, a holiday home for children suffering from cancer in memory of their son Calum
Well done to Jenna, the twin sister of the late Calum Speirs, who has been shortlisted to be one of the Olympic Torchbearers!
Jenna's parents, Duncan and Caroline Speirs, were proud of the 17-year-old when she received the news that she had been selected to be one of 8,000 people to hold the torch.
Caroline said: "Jenna was totally taken aback.
"At the moment it is a conditional offer; it's not totally confirmed but she had a few nominations and then they called her to say she had been shortlisted.
"To be one of 8,000 is a real honour.
"She will be carrying it in Glasgow but she doesn't know the route yet."
The Speirs family are well-known in Bute as the owners of the charity Calum's Cabin.
In 2007, 12-year-old Calum passed away just over a year after being diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour.
But the brave youngster wanted to help other children also suffering from cancer and helped his family create Calum's Cabin - a holiday cabin in his memory.
This week marks three years since the house officially opened and it has proved to be a huge success.
When s1bute caught up with Caroline, the family were in the middle of renovating a second cabin - Calum's Cottage.
The new holiday home has been primarily funded by Cash for Kids and the family hope to have it opened before the beginning of March, just in time for their first booking.
Caroline said: "The first year Calum's Cabin was about 80% full, now we're always booked right up - for two years we've been booked all the way through.
"It's just making a difference to so many and it was all Calum's idea.
"Calum wanted other children who were going through a similar thing to have the experience of a wonderful holiday in Bute.
"That's where Calum and Jenna spent years of their lives and they had so many happy times there.
"He wanted to create memories because it's memories that we always keep with us."
To donate to Calum's Cabin, click here.
For more information on booking Calum's Cabin or Calum's Cottage, please visit the bookings page.
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