In the face of tragedy, sometimes unexpected avenues of solace emerge. For father and son, Graham and Lewis Rennie, rugby became their refuge, helping the family to navigate their grief after losing their son and brother, Callum, at the age of three to cancer.
Their journey began with Callum's diagnosis as a baby, followed by a brave but tragically unsuccessful battle with the disease. Amidst the pain of loss, Graham and Lewis found comfort in rugby. Graham started coaching the minis at Larne RFC, and Lewis took to playing for the team. It became their shared passion, offering them a chance to bond and escape from their grief, even just for a little while.
“It really has been such a great way for Lewis and me to spend time together. If it wasn’t for the minis, I don’t know how interested I would be in rugby. When Callum wasn’t well, Lewis and I would have got two or three hours on a Saturday, just us. That was very important to me,” said Graham.
Graham’s involvement in coaching was a lifeline, giving him purpose and connecting him with a supportive community.
“It has 100% kept me going through everything. I don’t know how things would be for me personally if it wasn’t for coaching the minis,” he added.
Through rugby, Graham found a way to spend quality time with Lewis: "Rugby came up, and it just stuck," recalls Graham. "Seeing Lewis having fun and being able to spend time with him, it was just great to be involved. It became a hobby we could both do together and a way to spend time together."
In the midst of their own pain, the Rennie family - Graham, his wife Andrene, Lewis and his baby brother, Zack, turned their attention to helping others. Inspired by Callum's memory, Lewis embarked on a fundraising mission for The Big C Foundation NI, a charity set-up by family friend, Chris McNaughten in December 2021 in memory of Callum, which is dedicated to supporting children with cancer and their families. Their efforts garnered widespread support, showcasing the power of community and compassion. "Larne Rugby Club has been an enormous supporter of us and our charity," Graham reflects. "It's more than a club, it's a family."
In honour of Callum's memory, Lewis embarked on a mission to raise funds for the charity. What began as a humble birthday challenge blossomed into a movement, rallying the community together in a show of solidarity and support.
“We had hoped to only raise £250 and to have it as something to keep Lewis busy over the summer months. Next thing it was on Belfast Live, UTV and Q Radio, and completely took off. We never expected it to get the traction it did. Lewis was a superstar,” says Graham. Lewis ended up raising over £16,000 during his walking challenge.
As of last week, The Big C Foundation has obtained charity status. "Charity status is a big thing for us," Graham explains. "It means we can get more people involved in our events, and it is an exciting time for us as a charity." Through their fundraising efforts, the Rennie family has provided much-needed support to children undergoing cancer treatment, ensuring they receive the care and resources they deserve. “Our main goal is to help children to have the right support. So far we have been able to raise money for 15 wheelchairs, and it makes such a difference to the children’s mood and wellbeing.”
To show support for the Rennie family, and to reward Lewis’ fundraising efforts, Ulster Rugby, together with Bank of Ireland, invited Graham and Lewis to Kingspan Stadium to spend a day with the professional squad – including Lewis’ local town hero, and favourite Ulster player, Ben Moxham.
As they continue their journey, Graham and Lewis find happiness in simple joys like hiking and spending time together as a family. Through it all, rugby remains a constant source of strength and healing, and a reminder that even in the face of loss, there is hope and resilience. Lewis is now onto his next fundraising challenge to raise money for The Big C Foundation NI with his 7 Peak Challenge, and the goal of climbing Ben Nevis in the summer.
To donate to Lewis’s fundraising challenge for The Big C Foundation NI, donate here.