A brave epileptic Scots boy whose life ‘was saved’ by cannabis oil has inspired a charity Christmas single.
Little Seed by Harley Walsh, released through the group Music for Cole, is now available to stream with all proceeds being donated to Cole’s Campaign.
Twelve-year-old Cole Thomson and his family have been fighting tirelessly for six years to have his ‘miracle’ cannabis oil medication prescribed on the NHS.
They have, staggeringly, spent over £100,000 keeping him alive.
An ongoing campaign to fund medical cannabis for the East Kilbride boy, who has rare drug resistant focal epilepsy, has stepped up a gear following the return of his crippling seizures.
Cole’s Campaign was set up to help fund Cole’s lifesaving medicine which has transformed the youngster’s life since taking the drug six years ago.
Local singer and family friend Harley Walsh hopes her track, inspired by and written for the youngster, will raise enough cash to fund the care that Cole needs to keep him safe.
She told Lanarkshire Live: “Our track ‘Little Seed’ has just released on all streaming platforms
“This track was inspired by, and written for Cole Thomson. Cole and his mum Lisa have fought tirelessly to raise awareness for drug resistant epilepsy alongside raising money to fund the care that Cole needs.
“I have known Lisa for a few years as my client and now my friend. I heard her talk about her fight for Cole and I knew I wanted to help.
“I’ve met Cole a few times and he’s a great wee boy full of fun. He absolutely loves music and is a big fan of mine so it just made sense to do our project for him when the opportunity came up.”
Cole’s little body was wracked by multiple paralysing epileptic seizures a day which left him confined to a wheelchair and unable to walk or talk.
His mum Lisa Quarrell, a former police officer, admitted smuggling cannabis oil illegally into the country to treat her then six-year-old son.
In a BBC documentary, the mum-of-two said she had smuggled a cannabis medicine containing the ingredient THC – the part of the plant that produces a high – into the country from Holland after getting a prescription from a doctor there.
She spent thousands of pounds bringing the drug back illegally but Cole is now being prescribed the cannabis oil Bedrolite legally by medical cannabis clinic Curaleaf since May 2019.
Lisa insists the Canberra Primary pupil is ‘living proof’ cannabis oil is life-changing for kids with epilepsy following his brave return to taekwondo and boxing where he continues to thrive.
But the battling family were dealt a double blow this year with Cole’s seizures returning and the cost of his medicine increasing to a whopping £1800 per month.
Harley added: “The rest of the group for Music for Cole have been really touched by Cole’s fight and the lengths his mum has to go to to keep him safe.
“A single launch at the Village Inn in East Kilbride last month was a few weeks in the planning and we couldn’t have hoped for a better turnout and support by family and friends.”
Lisa has been fighting for six years for government support for Cole’s medicine to be NHS-prescribed, but is no further forward.
Cole receives the cannabinoid Bedrolite privately as his NHS consultant is not allowed to prescribe unlicensed medical cannabis due to a lack of robust evidence of the drug’s safety, quality or efficacy.
Drug laws are reserved to Westminster but Lisa argues that there is more the Scottish Government can do with the powers they do have.
The Scottish Government say that while they have “enormous sympathy” for Cole Thomson and his family, the regulation, licensing and supply of Cannabis Based Products for Medicinal Use (CBPMs) remain reserved to the UK Government and it has “no power” to alter this.
The family is under huge financial strain and, with only enough for two months worth of treatment left in the pot, the community of East Kilbride is being urged to dig deep to help.
Lisa said: “I have known Harley for a few years now and am a big fan of her music so when she spoke to me about doing her college project to support Cole’s campaign I was blown away.
“It’s such an incredible honour to have Harley, Allan, Benny, Niamh and Scott – such talented young people – support my wee boy and help to keep him safe. Harley was on CamGlen Radio to highlight our plight on Tuesday and hearing her explain what the words of the song mean made me really emotional.
“I only have two months money left so we are relaunching our campaign with Equi’s Ice Cream in January hoping to get the support of business again across 2025. Each month we will highlight what businesses are doing either donating, fundraising or highlighting Cole’s campaign in anyway they can.
“Cole’s meds are now £1800 every month and, as he grows, so does the cost it’s extremely stressful as we are now entering year seven. I have met with Joani Reid, my new MP, who is very supportive and has came onboard to help find solutions.”
She added: I have been continually told for six years by the Scottish Government that the full responsibility with any NHS funding, Government funding or NHS prescription lies within Westminster remit. I want to know if there is anything the Westminster Government can do to help families in Scotland.
“No one seems to want to take responsibility to help us as parents cut through the red tape so instead we have been left to our own devices. This is so wrong on so many levels as our children’s voices are ignored, our voices are ignored and no one seems to be interested in helping find the solution. We need a plan to be put in place for the kids already paying thousands to stay alive each month.”
East Kilbride and Strathaven MP Joani Reid raised Cole’s case in Westminster on November 6 to mark the six year anniversary of the legalisation of medical cannabis.
She told us: “It’s clear more must be done to ensure families like Lisa’s are able to access the care their loved ones need. The clinical evidence for treating conditions like Cole’s with medicinal cannabis is overwhelming and should be available on the NHS. I will continue to advocate in Parliament for Cole and others in similar situations to ensure they receive the support they need.”
Purchase Little Seed on iTunes as a donation to Cole’s Campaign.
To make a donation visit www.gofundme.com/f/un6hm-music-for-cole
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