Help Jack Make A Difference

Through your support, HELP JACK MAKE A DIFFERENCE has donated:- £22,081 ( plus Gift Aid) to a Soft Tissue Sarcoma Research Project, headed by Dr. Pillay at U.C.L. £41,803 ( plus Gift Aid) to a project looking at Molecular roles in Neuroblastoma and Rhabdomyosarcoma, headed by Dr. Malik at the University of Bristol. These two projects are now full funded. HELP JACK MAKE A DIFFERENCE has also raised £16,687 (plus £2,233 Gift Aid), from a sponsored cycle ride, London to Paris, to support the work of Professor Janet Shipley, who is the head of I.C.R.'s Molecular Pathology Team. We are now supporting a new project at the University Of Birmingham. Dr. Meriel Jenney, a consultant paediatric oncologist, is looking to improve outcomes for newly diagnosed and relapsed children and adults with rhabdomyosarcoma. Although a rare disease, rhabdomyosarcoma is the commonest malignant soft tissue sarcoma in children. This international trial aims to recruit around 1,800 patients over a period of 7 years from 10 European countries. The trial will cost 2.5M over the course of 10 years. - £26,000 covers the costs of 1 years’ calculations from a senior trial statistician. - £30,000 covers the analysis of samples for the PAX-FOXO fusion gene status for all patients on the trial. - £80,000 covers the costs of a pathology scanner to study patient samples. To date HELP JACK MAKE A DIFFERENCE has donated £40,117.20 ( plus Gift Aid) to this research project. HERE IS MY STORY.... My name is Jack, I'm 19 years old. I became ill last year whilst taking my A2 exams. After initial problems with diagnosis, I was confirmed as having a type of soft tissue sarcoma (rhabdomyosarcoma). Initial treatments were gruelling but positive. However, soon after treatments ended, the sarcomas came back, with a vengeance. The doctors now tell me that they can't cure me. Sarcomas are relatively rare but are often the main cancers to affect teenagers like me. Many of my friends who are fellow patients also have this same illness. I am determined to help research into sarcomas and am already taking part in one research project, but we need more funding. Research will help us better understand the causes and identify improved treatments, saving young lives in the future. I'm a private person and it's been a big decision for me to share this publicly, but it's the right thing to do. So please, please help. Please make a donation Share my appeal with as many people as you can, especially any businesses who can help. With your generosity, I might be able to make a difference. Help me to help others. Thank you Jack Updates: 27.12.2019 We held the second the 'Help Jack" Black Tie Ball at Thornton Hall Hotel,Wirral. Raising £4,503.70. Thank you to everyone who came and to those individuals and companies who donated items for the raffle or auction. 25.8.2018 Rose a good family friend and Mum to Jack's lifelong friend, Rob, is swimming a mile in Loch Lomond. She is joined by Lucy Chung her close friend who is swimming to raise funds for MacMillan and Help Jack Make a Difference. Thank you so much Rose and Lucy, hope the water isn't too cold. 28.12.2017 We raised a massive £10,300 from Jack’s Black Tie Ball. Thank you to everyone who supported us. In August 2017, Jack's friend and fellow Liverpool supporter, Asad,entered a charity boxing match to raise funds for Jack. Asad you're a star, thank you. In June 2017, West Kirby Rotary Club and The Wro organised a sponsored walk to Hilbre Island. In June 2017, Jack's Dad, Ged and 7 friends, including Jack's Headmaster, cycled 368 miles from London To Amsterdam. A fantastic achievement. A big thank you to all the riders and people who sponsored them. 1/09/16: Fundraising Event: Jack's school friends, Harry, Olly, Matty, Dom, Dan, Tom, Connor and Pog all completed the National 'Three Peaks Challenge' in support of Jack's fund raising page. A huge achievement, incredibly difficult but they never gave in. A massive effort and they've raised a huge amount, it really makes a difference, thank you all and those who supported the boys especially the support team of Kate and Simon, brilliant. 13/08/16: 'my deepest condolences to a lovely family. I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Jack's company. A lovely brave lad and a real credit to his Mum and Dad.' from Paddy McGuiness 11/07/16: Sadly, our precious son, Jack, lost his long hard battle with Sarcoma today. He gave the fight everything he had. There are no words to describe how proud we are of Jack. We will continue to raise funds for this much needed cause. The treatment Jack received hadn't changed in over 40 years. JACK DID MAKE A DIFFERENCE. Julie and Ged 29/06/16: £30,000 and still going! Thank you everyone who has helped to support me. Clatterbridge nurses you are angels, as are you ladies in the Ladies Committee at Birkenhead School. Thanks to everyone who has been so kind, it's unbelievable. Words cannot express how grateful I am to you all 16/06/16: Thank you all so much, you have helped fully fund the project at UCL researching soft tissue sarcomas. Nobody expected that funding to be in place so early, thanks to you, it is. These donations will help save the lives of young people. We ARE making a difference 31/05/16: Amazing, we have reached £20,000, thank you all and special thanks to Tom (fellow resident at 'hotel' Clatterbridge) and his family and friends as well as everybody at school, I'm so grateful to you all 26/05/16: Thank you all for your messages of support, I've been so moved by them all. Special thanks to the Birkenhead School community for all of your generous help and to the brilliant caring team at Clatterbridge Cancer Centre who are looking after me.