CHILDREN with LEUKAEMIA
In February 1987, Paul O’Gorman died of leukaemia at the age of fourteen. Just nine months later, another devastating blow struck the O’Gorman family when Paul’s sister, Jean, was also lost to cancer.
Always a caring boy, Paul had made his parents promise to help other children with leukaemia and, within weeks of his death, they started fundraising. In November 1987, just days after Jean’s death, they met Diana, Princess of Wales. Deeply moved by the double tragedy, she personally helped establish and inaugurate this charity in January 1988.
What started as a small memorial charity is now the UK’s leading national charity dedicated to the conquest of childhood leukaemia through pioneering research, new treatment and support of leukaemic children and their families. Paul’s indomitable spirit continues to inspire the work of CHILDREN with LEUKAEMIA.
Only forty years ago, a diagnosis of leukaemia was tantamount to a death sentence for a child. Although four out of five affected children now survive, the powerful, intensive treatments can themselves cause severe problems. Alarmingly, incidence of the disease is increasing – most sharply in the under five age group. The reasons for this increasing incidence are unknown.
Thanks to the generous support of the public, many areas of research and treatment are being investigated and progressed. Teams of researchers funded by CHILDREN with LEUKAEMIA are working towards the development of more effective, less punishing treatments that will ultimately help more children to survive leukaemia. We have made and continue to make grants to leading researchers around the world for projects which promise to advance our knowledge in this important area and which might help us to establish whether preventive measures may be possible. In addition, we provide capital funding for research facilities; our Centres in Bristol, London, Manchester and Newcastle as well as the Scottish Paul O'Gorman Childhood Leukaemia Research Centre in Glasgow. Teams of scientists in these centres are at the forefront of advances in research and treatment of childhood
leukaemia.
CHILDREN with LEUKAEMIA will not rest until childhood leukaemia becomes a disease of the past so that no other family need suffer in the same way as the O’Gormans.
We could not continue the fight against the biggest childhood cancer without the help of our scientists, staff, volunteers and supporters, for which we are enormously grateful.
We rely upon voluntary donations to fund all of this work and funds raised by our Mr Men and Little Miss running team make a vital contribution. Please help take our vital work forward and save every young life that would otherwise be lost forever.
Our trademark Mr Men and Little Miss Team is made possible by the support we receive from Chorion Rights Limited, and for which we are enormously grateful.
For further information about CHILDREN with LEUKAEMIA, please click to visit www.leukaemia.org.
Or contact Ben or Claire at:
CHILDREN with LEUKAEMIA
51 Great Ormond Street
London
WC1N 3JQ
Tel: 020 7404 0808
Fax: 020 7404 3666
