THOUSANDS of fans attending Ross County's eagerly anticipated cup tie against Celtic next week are being asked to remember a plucky little girl who has become part of the club's history.
Unknown to the vast majority of the crowd attending last year's Scottish Cup Final at Hampden, Emma Cameron, one of Ross County's mascots, had bravely walked on to the pitch unaided following a recent leg amputation and a tough battle with cancer.
She was watched with a mixture of trepidation and pride by her dad Alan, who has followed the Staggies since he was a boy.
Still only 11, Emma continued to live life to the full while fully aware of her terminal diagnosis.
Sadly, Emma, who endured 15 months of gruelling chemotherapy, lost her fight with the disease just short of her 12th birthday in April this year.
Her memory is to be honoured with the launch of a foundation in her name which will help other kids suffering cancer in their time of need. Ross County has decided to give the newly set up Emma Cameron Foundation an immediate shot in the arm with a bucket collection outside next Wednesday evening's eagerly anticipated League Cup clash with Celtic.
Emma's dad Alan, an insurance broker who was born and raised in Dingwall, told the Journal, "She got a huge buzz from the occasion which was obviously a time of mixed emotions for me. I've followed the club since their Highland League days so the mascot idea was kind of foisted on her by me.
"I was very apprehensive it was not long after she had her amputation and she had been in the hospital the week before having chemotherapy. There was always the possibility that she just wasn't going to make it. She had hardly walked at all on her prosthetic leg before she walked out at Hampden.
"I remember I went to get her crutches from the back of the car and she asked me what I was doing. She was absolutely determined that she was going to do it by herself. I'll never forget the massive smile on her face as she came back off the pitch and she would often recount stories from the tunnel as they were preparing to go out."
Inspired by his daughter's pluck and determination, the family set up the charity to provide support for organisations and charities that helped Emma during her treatment and surgery for her osteosarcoma.
The Emma Cameron Foundation's mission statement explains, "A cancer diagnosis is devastating for the child and their family.
"Many things can be done to improve the quality of life of these children and we have seen at first hand what can bring a smile to an ill child, what can make going to school easier and what can make life easier for the whole family."
In addition to her County mascot experience, Emma was also able to meet celebrities and royalty, Princess Anne, JLS and Ricky Whittle amongst others, during her final months. She enjoyed travelling and was also able to take a trip to Lapland.
Hopes are high that the Foundation may be able to help with similar treats for others similarly affected.
Ross County's head of administration, Ranald Gilbert, told the Journal, "I was privileged to meet Emma and her family during her battle with the illness and was touched by her spirit and determination. When I met her father, Alan, at an away match towards the end of last season and he explained that they were in the process of setting up a charity in her memory, my first thought was what we as a club could do to help.
"Every season we provide as many charities as possible with collections outside the ground at Victoria Park so I added them to the list and when this cup tie came out of the hat I immediately felt it the right occasion for them, given Emma's involvement in our historic Scottish Cup campaign in 2010.
"I hope fans of both clubs will dig deep on the night to help this hugely worthwhile cause which will make such a difference to the children it supports."
Website and Facebook pages for the charity are under construction. Details of the Foundation can be found online at http://ecfoundation.wordpress.com/
