Wee Move Event: Helping Children with Cancer Rediscover Confidence, Joy and the Freedom to Play

Overall survival rates for childhood cancer have significantly improved over recent decades thanks to advancements in diagnostic technology and treatment. But the very same treatments that save lives can also have debilitating side effects for young people; reduced fitness, lower bone density, fatigue, loss of muscle, pain, and anxiety about the future. These challenges don’t disappear when treatment ends; for many children, they continue to shape everyday life long into recovery.

The team on Lochranza Ward at the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People (RHCYP) see these challenges every day – the tired faces, the lost motivation, the worries about joining in and the longing to do what other young people their age are doing. Growing evidence shows that carefully supported physical activity and play can have a really big impact on young people undergoing cancer treatment, helping rebuild strength, improve mood, and restore a sense of normality when so much feels out of their control.

That’s why the team wanted to create an experience for their patients and their families that supported this: a day shaped around movement, fun, and connection, where every activity was adapted so that no child felt like they had to sit out.

Thanks to our generous donors, Wee Move: Gie it a Go came to life! The first event of its kind in Scotland, bringing together clinical staff, local sports providers, and families in a joyful celebration of movement, confidence and connection.

A Day Designed for Every Child

Held at Meadowbank Sports Centre, Wee Move invited children on active treatment and those up to five years post treatment to take part alongside their families. The day offered a wide range of accessible, confidence building activities including cycling, football, wheelchair basketball, fencing, golf, mindful movement and more. All were delivered as short fun sessions so that the young people could try things at their own pace and rediscover what their bodies could do.

Local sports clubs and charities volunteered their expertise and equipment, while twelve NHS staff members volunteered on their day off, offering encouragement, reassurance and clinical awareness throughout the day. Together, they created an environment where every child could participate safely and joyfully.

One staff member reflected:

One of the most heart-warming things was seeing one of our patients who is an amputee gaining the confidence to cycle on a bike.”

Over the course of the day, children explored activities with the gentle reassurance of staff who understood their limits, their anxieties, and their courage. One child summed up the magic of the day perfectly:

I loved being on the bike because I felt free.”

Staff from across the hospital volunteered their time because they believed in what the day represented: a reminder that childhood doesn’t stop during treatment, it simply needs space, understanding, and compassion to flourish.

Later, staff described how it felt to see the children running, laughing, and discovering that activity could still be fun and safe:

I definitely came home with my heart full.“

One day that will continue to make a difference

Parents left with a better understanding of how they can help their child stay active at home and help rebuild strength and energy after treatment. Many also shared how the event had boosted their child’s confidence in ways they hadn’t expected, with one parent sharing:

Amazing, my son wants to rejoin his football club after taking part today!”

Staff said the day gave them a deeper insight into what children enjoy, what motivates them, and how they can incorporate the principals of the event into the ward setting and standard cancer care pathways, helping improve recovery after treatment.

Wee move offered families something that can’t be easily measured: a joyful memory during incredibly challenging times, proof that their child is still full of potential, courage, and play. The team now plans to deliver Wee Move every 18 months to continue supporting children and families through the challenges of cancer treatment and recovery.