PJ had a smile that could light up a room. Now a new fund launched in his memory will help other children

A young boy who passed away due to a rare medical condition is being honoured with a fund in his name.

West Lothian youngster Paul James Cockburn – who was known as PJ – was just 12, when he died as a result of short bowel syndrome.

The illness meant PJ, from Linlithgow, was forced to undergo a liver transplant when he was just 11 months old, carried out at Birmingham’s Children’s Hospital.

Now the family have set up the PJ Foundation to raise funds for the Edinburgh Children’s Charity Hospital (ECHC).

PJ’s Aunt, Elaine Campbell, said: “The condition PJ was born with meant he underwent surgery at a very young age and we were actually told he had just days to live before the life-saving procedure.”

ECHC provides vital support to the hospital and to a number of other locations across east central Scotland where children and young people are treated, including St John’s hospital in Livingston.

Elaine added: “We initially set up fundraising to cover the costs of the time spent down in Birmingham, where the specialists are based, as Jill and Paul looked after PJ full time and had to have long periods off work.”

Sue Diamond, Community Fundraising Manager at ECHC, said: “The PJ Foundation is such an amazing initiative and a really fitting way to celebrate the life of such a special little boy.

“PJ had a smile that could light up a room and I know with the community’s fundraising led by his incredible family and friends, his memory is helping to put a smile on so many more children’s faces.”

To donate or find out more, visit PJ Foundation’s page