Celebrating 15 Years: The Leanne Fund Now Reaches Every NHS Region in Scotland

From a kitchen table on the Isle of Lewis to a national partner in CF care - every child diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis in Scotland can now access vital support.

Fifteen years ago, The Leanne Fund was founded not in a boardroom, but around a kitchen table on the Isle of Lewis - a family’s personal response to unimaginable loss. Today, that same fund stands as a recognised and trusted partner in Cystic Fibrosis (CF) care across Scotland, reaching every NHS region in the country and ensuring that every single child diagnosed with CF can now access the vital support and services they need.

What began as a voluntary organisation - driven by the memory of a remarkable young woman, Leanne Mitchell, who died of CF at just 21 - has quietly grown into a national force for compassion, care, and hope. Leanne lived her life with fierce determination, kindness, and joy, and her legacy has become a lifeline for hundreds of families navigating the relentless challenges of Cystic Fibrosis.

The charity began by supporting families across the Highlands and Western Isles, expanding into NHS Grampian and becoming an employer in 2016 thanks to Big Lottery Fund support. By 2019, it was reaching families in NHS Tayside, and most recently, it extended assistance to paediatric CF patients in Greater Glasgow, Ayrshire, and Lanarkshire. Along the way, The Leanne Fund opened its own office in Stornoway, strengthening its ability to deliver care and support wherever it’s needed.

Now in its 15th anniversary year, The Leanne Fund is proud to announce its services are accessible to children, young people, and families in every single NHS health board in Scotland - from the Highlands and Islands to the Borders and beyond. This milestone means that no matter where a family lives, they are no longer alone.

This landmark expansion to Lothian and Borders was made possible with the generous support of the Garfield Weston Foundation, enabling growth of the Cornerstone Project - a programme that identifies and responds to unmet needs in under-served areas, ensuring every family affected by CF receives equitable support. Through the project, The Leanne Fund provides emotional support for families and individuals living with CF, offers financial assistance for household bills and essential needs, delivers practical resources and equipment to help with daily life, and arranges special experiences and treats designed to bring comfort during some of life’s most challenging moments.

Chrisetta Mitchell, Co-Founder and Development Manager at The Leanne Fund, reflects:

"When we began this journey, our vision was simple but bold - that no family living with CF in Scotland would have to face it alone. Today, reaching every NHS region is more than a milestone - it's a testament to the unwavering support of those who gave so generously of their time, love, and support and walked this road with us. We feel so blessed and we’re so grateful to Garfield Weston Foundation and every family, supporter, volunteer and funder who has partnered with us to make it all possible. This moment belongs to all of us - and we remain committed and more determined than ever to being there for every family, every step of the way."

Despite its national reach, The Leanne Fund operates resourcefully from a single office, with a small but dedicated team of just three staff members, supported by volunteers and donors. Their commitment has turned one family’s heartbreak into hope for literally hundreds of individuals and families.

The story of The Leanne Fund is not just one of growth - it is one of love, enduring commitment, and extraordinary impact. As they mark 15 years of service, the true measure of their success is not in numbers, but in knowing that every child diagnosed with CF in Scotland now has someone to turn to - someone who understands, who listens, and who acts.

From a grieving family’s kitchen table to becoming a cornerstone of CF support in Scotland, The Leanne Fund is a testament to what love can build, and to what a community can achieve when no one is left behind.

About the Garfield Weston Foundation:

Established in 1958, the Garfield Weston Foundation is a family-founded grant-maker that gives money to support a wide variety of charities across the UK. The Foundation’s funding comes from an endowment of shares in the Weston family business – a successful model that still exists today.

Each year the Foundation gives away its income and donations have continued to grow. Since it was established it has donated over £1.5 billion, of which over half has been given away in the past ten years. In the most recent financial year the Foundation gave away around £130 million to nearly 3000 charities across the UK.