Progress Autumn/Winter 2019

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Pr gress All about The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity

AU T UMN / W IN T E R 2 019

A decade of dedication Join us on the 10th Banham Marsden March next year

Trial lifeline An amazing immunotherapy journey

Hitting the target How your support is helping experts like Professor Sanjay Popat to tackle lung cancer

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HRH talks mental health Your support really matters Welcome to the latest issue of Progress, in which we take a look at the fantastic work of The Royal Marsden’s Lung Unit. Here, breakthroughs in research – many funded by the generous supporters of The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity – are saving the lives of cancer patients everywhere.

HRH The Duke of Cambridge visited The Royal Marsden this summer to speak to patients and staff about the impact of cancer treatment on their mental health and psychological wellbeing. The Royal Marsden offers a full programme of psychological and emotional support for patients, their families and staff, all funded by The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity. Aly Foyle, Matron on Bud Flanagan Ward, was diagnosed with stress, depression and compassion fatigue in December 2017. She spoke to The Duke about the support she received. “It was a very upsetting and difficult time, but with the support of my family, GP and The Royal Marsden, I got through it,” she said. “I use any opportunity I have to talk about my experiences – if I can help one person, it makes my experience more worthwhile.” The Duke also visited Ellis Ward, and met Pauline Gore, widow of Professor Martin Gore, who died suddenly in January. Alongside Pauline, The Duke spoke with close colleagues of Professor Gore about how his death has affected staff and patients.

We also feature the stories of Alex Green and Christine Powter, whose lives have been changed by immunotherapy treatment pioneered at The Royal Marsden. Finally, we look ahead to the 10th anniversary of The Banham Marsden March, which promises to be bigger and better than ever. I will be taking part again this year, so join me and sign up now!

The Duke with patient Rebecca Readshaw

Kind regards,

Antonia Dalmahoy Managing Director, The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity

THE PARENTS OF young Harry Shaw launched Harry’s Giant Pledge to raise money for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity after being told their son had weeks to live. James and Charlotte Shaw have raised more than £270,000 for research into childhood cancer, and racing driver Lewis Hamilton dedicated his win at the Spanish Grand Prix in the spring to the five-year-old Formula One fan. Harry was diagnosed last August, but sadly relapsed and passed away in June this year.

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OUR L ATE S T NE W S

Give back to acclaim Campaign

the future

Registered Charity No. 1095197

By George, it’s a million!

research and develop the best The Royal Marsden Cancer cancer treatments. Real patient Charity won Legacy Campaign of the Year at this year’s National stories helped to bring to life the lasting difference that gifts Fundraising Awards for its ‘Give Wills make to the lives of back to the future’ campaign. Leaving a gift to The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity inin your Will can people touched by cancer, Thethelegacy campaign featured transform lives of countless people who are touched by cancer. long Royal Lottie, A gift of anyMarsden size will helppatient us pioneer life-saving research andinto the future. ients Dalmahoy, Managing develop best diagnosed treatments, making Antonia whothewas witha lacute long into the future. Director of the Charity, said: lymphoblastic leukaemia when in Wills guide at royalmarsden.org/giftsinwills “We are so proud to win this she wasgifts just two years old, and award. It is thanks to every her grandmother Sheila (above). It was the first such campaign run patient and supporter that helped us to develop and deliver this by the Charity, which was also campaign – we couldn’t have shortlisted for the Fundraising done it without them.” Charity of the Year award. Read more about our free Gifts in Wills help the Wills service on page 15. Charity to fund life-saving

George and the Giant Pledge – set up in 2017 by Vicki and James ‘Woody’ Woodall after their son, George, was diagnosed with cancer at the age of four – has raised £1.4 million for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, smashing its £1-million target. Vicki said: “It’s been amazing to have so much support from friends, family, colleagues and even people we’ve never met to help us raise this astonishing amount. We’re so proud to be able to help fund much-needed research into childhood cancer and support for other patients and families going through treatment.” The funds raised are supporting a range of posts and research work in The Royal Marsden’s Oak Centre for Children and Young People. Dr Lynley Marshall, Consultant in Paediatric and Adolescent Oncology Drug Development, said: “We are immensely grateful to Vicki and Woody for dedicating their time to raise money for us. They are absolutely inspirational.”

Also in this issue “We’ve completely changed the way we treat lung cancer”

“My scans show no visible signs of cancer, and I feel great”

“It really hit home just how amazing The Royal Marsden is”

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Below: Professor Sanjay Popat. Right: Dr Anna Minchom

Targeting a better future

The way we treat lung cancer has changed radically, meaning that patients now survive longer and have a better quality of life

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WHERE YOUR MONEY GOES

More than 46,000 people are diagnosed with lung cancer in the UK every year, making it the third most common type of cancer. For early-stage lung cancer, surgery can remove the tumour and offer the best hope for a cure. But often, the disease shows no signs or symptoms until it has spread. In the past, this meant most patients had a poor prognosis and treatments were mostly palliative. However, the past 10 years have seen a dramatic shift in the way patients with lung cancer are treated. There’s now a sense of optimism at The Royal Marsden around future treatment. Professor Sanjay Popat, Consultant Medical Oncologist, says: “We’ve completely changed the way we treat lung cancer. For some patients, we can now manage it as we would a chronic disease. Patients are surviving longer, and with a better quality of life.” Supporters of The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity are playing a key role in this progress by funding research nurses, who enable the hospital to run clinical trials, and specialist consultant posts and academic clinical fellows, who are carrying out pioneering research. New hope Following research that included important studies at The Royal Marsden, the immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab was approved in

2016 for use on the NHS to treat lung cancer patients, followed by nivolumab in 2017. These drugs, which harness the body’s immune system to attack cancer cells, lead to patients surviving longer and cause fewer side effects compared with chemotherapy. The next stage of immunotherapy research is investigating how these drugs work in combination with other treatments. For example, The Royal Marsden is investigating how combining radiotherapy with pembrolizumab can make the drug more effective, and is exploring the benefit of prescribing it after radiotherapy for patients with non-small cell lung cancer. The past decade has also heralded the era of targeted drugs. These target genetic mutations in tumours in order to stop cancer at a molecular level.

Professor Popat says: “We look at a sample of tumour cells to see which genetic mutations they have and which ones are likely to drive tumour growth, then we match them to a drug that targets this mutation.” Targeted drugs have meant that these patients survive three or four times longer and have an improved quality of life. Research is now under way to compare the effectiveness of targeted drugs and, under Dr Anna Minchom, a Consultant Medical Oncologist funded by the Charity, to identify other genetic markers that could be targeted with drugs. Dr Minchom is running a number of early-phase trials

“We’ve made great progress, but we need to develop new treatments for patients with hardto-treat lung cancer” involving experimental drugs in the hospital’s Oak Foundation Drug Development Unit. She says: “We’ve made great progress in treating the disease in recent years, but we need to develop new treatments for patients in whom existing drugs no longer work and for those with types of lung cancer that are difficult to treat.” Encouraging steps A study led by Dr Minchom has shown that, among patients on Phase I clinical trials using The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity 5

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WHERE YOUR MONEY GOES

Help us to continue our vital research

Dr Richard Lee

wearable fitness trackers such as a Fitbit, higher daily step counts were linked with longer survival. The next stage is to determine whether these devices could help recruit patients to Phase I trials. Fitness trackers are also being used in another study funded by the Charity, in which Dr Nadia Yousaf is testing the feasibility of using them to monitor the health of patients with advanced lung and upper gastrointestinal cancers. When a patient’s daily step count drops by 1,000 below their average, they are contacted by medical staff and referred to the Critical Assessment Unit for a review. The next stage will be to determine if this can reduce hospital admissions and improve patient outcomes. Despite the advances in new treatments, the most effective way of saving lives is by diagnosing more cases before they have spread.

Dr Richard Lee, Consultant in Early Diagnosis, is funded by the Charity. He is working with RM Partners, the West London Cancer Alliance hosted by The Royal Marsden, on an initiative in which people who are at increased risk will be invited for a lung health check and, if appropriate, a CT scan. Dr Lee says: “Early diagnosis means patients can begin the treatment most likely to be effective for them as soon as possible, and hopefully achieve a better outcome.”

Lung cancer is not the only cancer that is difficult to diagnose; others such as pancreatic and ovarian cancers also don’t cause symptoms until they have spread and are harder to treat. We now need your help to find new ways of diagnosing these and other cancers earlier and to develop treatments to save the lives of more cancer patients. Your gift could support more world-leading research like the early-phase trials carried out by Dr Anna Minchom, or the pioneering immunotherapy studies led by Professor Sanjay Popat.

Please call 0844 245 1150 or visit royalmarsden.org/ research and help support more groundbreaking work for the benefit of cancer patients at The Royal Marsden, across the UK and around the world

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MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Q&A

Cheryl Richardson

The MRI Superintendent Radiographer tells us how she supports patients through her work and her fundraising scanners, as well as a new 3T scanner that’s due to be installed in Sutton soon and a replacement 1.5T scanner. This support has been vital in helping us see more patients and carry out more innovative work to detect cancer earlier and give patients a more accurate diagnosis. The Charity also funded the illuminated cherry blossom pictures on the ceilings of the scan rooms, which really help patients to feel calm and relaxed. It’s a small thing, but it makes a big difference to reducing patient anxiety.

What’s your average day like? My days are always really varied, so there isn’t an average day! In general, I balance clinical duties – such as preparing patients for scans and looking after those who suffer from claustrophobia when they’re in the MRI scanner – with research into new scanning techniques and managerial tasks. My main priority is providing the best patient care, which I do personally as a radiographer but also by supporting my team to make sure they are performing at their best. How does radiography affect patient treatment and care? Imaging underpins every single process that patients go through in the hospital. Every

patient will have scans: they enable us to see the exact size and position of their cancer so that we can plan treatments such as radiotherapy, as well as to measure whether the tumour is responding. Imaging is also involved in about 70 clinical trials around the hospital, as well as our own radiography-led research. For example, one of our radiographers is about to have some research published on developing imaging for sarcomas. How is The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity supporting your work and your patients? The Charity funded the Reuben Foundation Imaging Centre in Chelsea, including the 1.5T and 3T MRI

Why do you take part in Charity events? I take part in fundraising events because I can see how well the funds are spent! We’ve held department bake-offs, I’ve run the Great South Run and I take part in The Banham Marsden March every year. I also go to the London Marathon to cheer on our runners every year, and if one of my team is taking part in an event, I’ll go and support them. For me, it’s all part of working at The Royal Marsden.

“The Charity’s vital support has helped us to see more patients and detect cancer earlier”

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A runaway success

Christine Powter thought she had just weeks to live when treatment for bowel cancer failed – but participation in an immunotherapy trial gave her a new lease of life

When Christine Powter found out she could join a clinical trial of immunotherapy at The Royal Marsden, it gave her a lifeline. “It was really the last option,” Christine says. “When I was diagnosed with small bowel cancer, it had already spread and was terminal. I’d had surgery and was on chemotherapy, but the cancer

was progressing. I couldn’t eat at all and had lost a lot of weight. Before starting the trial, I had to stop the chemotherapy and steroids I’d been on, which made me so ill I was warned I may only survive a few weeks.” But Christine pulled through and, in July 2018, received her first dose of immunotherapy as part of a

trial investigating its benefits for patients with certain secondary cancers and those with a specific genetic mutation called microsatellite instability (MSI). Home comforts “After just two treatments, I was able to eat small amounts of food for the first time in months,” says

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THANKS TO YOU

Christine. “I put on half a stone in a week and started to feel better than I had since diagnosis.” At first, Christine was treated as an inpatient on Ellis Ward, which was refurbished in 2012 thanks to a generous donation from Jimmy Thomas, a supporter of The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity whose late wife was treated on the ward. “Ellis Ward was like a hotel,” Christine says. “The day room was a delight and the décor so bright and cheerful. I made friends there, and I’d hang over the staircase and listen to the pianist below.”

“I’m not usually an emotional person, but I cried when I got home as I thought I’d never see it again” In September 2018, Christine was allowed home. She says: “I’m not usually an emotional person, but I cried when I got home as I thought I’d never see it again.” Dr Ian Chau, Consultant Medical Oncologist, says: “Christine’s treatment really demonstrated the dramatic response and benefit that colorectal patients with a high level of MSI in their tumour can experience with immunotherapy. “To me, the most important thing for Christine was that she couldn’t eat anything and was completely dependent on intravenous feeding for weeks. But after treatment during the trial, she was able to have lobster thermidor – her favourite dish.” On the run One of Christine’s three children, Stephanie, then discovered how the Charity funds the research nurses

Right: Dr Ian Chau. Left: patient Christine Powter benefited from immunotherapy

and equipment that were crucial in Christine’s trial and treatment, as well as refurbishments of areas such as Ellis Ward. Stephanie signed up to run the Royal Parks Half Marathon last year to raise funds for the Charity. Bitten by the running bug, she then took part in the Virgin Money London Marathon and, to date, has raised an incredible £9,000. “The day of the marathon was very emotional,” Stephanie says. “It was the best experience I have ever had, and doing it for the Charity meant so much to me. My family and I will be forever grateful to The Royal Marsden for what they have done for my mum.” Christine says: “None of us expected me to be alive for the

marathon, but not only was I alive, I was well enough to run around London trying to catch Steph on the route and meet her at the finish. “My scans are showing no visible signs of cancer and I feel great. I’m back in the gym, I’ve been skiing and I am very grateful to The Royal Marsden.”

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Hope in adversity After lawyer Alex Green was successfully treated for melanoma, his colleagues at Macfarlanes were glad to support The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity In 2012, Alex Green, a lawyer at City law firm Macfarlanes, visited his GP after finding an unusual lesion on his chest and received a diagnosis of melanoma, starting a journey which has seen him undergo surgery, radiotherapy and pioneering immunotherapy treatment. “Tests showed it was localised, so I had it removed and thought

that was that,” Alex, now 37, recalls. “I was diagnosed on the Friday and went back to work on the Monday.” But 18 months later, another lump was found, in his neck. The cancer had moved into his body. He was referred to Professor James Larkin at The Royal Marsden and underwent several operations to remove tumours and a course of post-surgery radiotherapy.

“I finished radiotherapy by Christmas 2015 and scans at that point showed I was clear – the best Christmas present we could have wished for.” Mum’s the word Alex went back to work in January 2016, and by the summer he felt his life was getting back on track. His second child had just been born

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OUR AMAZING SUPPORTERS

Macfarlanes’ super support

“To have no visible cancer after just one treatment was a huge – but very nice – surprise” and he was feeling positive; however, in March 2017, scans showed the melanoma had appeared in his lungs. “That was a real blow,” says Alex. “But Professor Larkin and Nikki Hunter, my clinical nurse specialist, were fantastic. They supported me and my family through the initial shock and proposed a new treatment – immunotherapy. I felt I could really trust their advice and that they and The Royal Marsden would do their best for me.” The treatment, a combination of two drugs – ipilimumab and nivolumab – had become available for melanoma patients following clinical trials with which Professor Larkin and The Royal Marsden had been heavily involved. “Around 10 days after my first treatment, I started to suffer side effects and was admitted as an inpatient. It was during this time that it really hit home just how amazing The Royal Marsden is. The highest accolade I can give is that the hospital received my mum’s seal of approval – as a nurse for many years who specialised in cancer, she knows her stuff.” A nice surprise At Alex’s scans in June 2017, he and his wife Jen were merely hoping that the tumours had not materially grown. But the scan showed there was no trace of cancer anywhere. “It was amazing,” says Alex. “It had been a difficult few months, and to have no visible cancer after just one treatment was a huge – but

Above: Alex Green. Left: Alex chats to Professor James Larkin

very nice – surprise. I think I asked Professor Larkin and Nikki to repeat the results about five times!” Alex felt well enough to go back to work in September 2017. Throughout, he had the support of his colleagues, who were happy to help when Alex nominated The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity to be Macfarlanes’ Charity of the Year. “Everyone at the firm has really got behind the fundraising to support the immunotherapy research,” he says “I can’t thank The Royal Marsden, the Charity and all those who work there enough. It really is a special place, full of hope and positivity. I feel so lucky to be looked after there.”

As part of its Charity of the Year fundraising, Macfarlanes staff have held a Christmas raffle, abseiled down the ArcelorMittal Orbit at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and walked The Banham Marsden March. They have also set up the Happy Hour Appeal, inviting colleagues to donate an hour’s salary – which the firm would match – to The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity. Macfarlanes also hosted a special ‘evening with’ event for staff, clients and friends, where guests heard from Professor James Larkin and Dr Samra Turajlic about the advances being made in immunotherapy. Charles Martin, Senior Partner at Macfarlanes, says: “Alex’s story demonstrates the incredible impact of the work of The Royal Marsden, and we are delighted as a firm to be helping the teams continue their research into immunotherapy, which has such potential for cancer patients.”

The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity works in partnership with the private sector in a variety of ways. If your company would like to support the Charity and help to improve the lives of people affected by cancer, please visit royalmarsden.org/ corporate to find out more

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Go Shiona!

Two of the abseil team descend the ArcelorMittal Orbit

Suits you down to the ground A team of more than 20 bankers from 18 different firms took on an abseil challenge down the UK’s tallest sculpture to raise funds for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity. The abseil team swapped their City offices for the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in east London for a daring descent of over 200ft from the ArcelorMittal Orbit, the UK’s highest free-fall abseil. Led by Richard Cormack, Managing Director at Goldman Sachs and member of the Charity’s Oak Cancer Centre Appeal Board, the team wore specially made purple business suits donated by Dress2Kill for the challenge. Richard said: “I’m incredibly proud to be supporting the Charity. It was

definitely worth overcoming my fear of heights for such a great cause!” The bankers raised more than £250,000 towards building the Oak Cancer Centre, a new facility at The Royal Marsden in Sutton that will support further breakthroughs in treatment and care, vastly improve facilities, and transform the lives of cancer patients everywhere.

For more information about how you can take on a challenge to support the Charity, visit royalmarsden.org/ do-something

Shiona Ramage was 45 years old when she was diagnosed with melanoma in June 2016. She was referred to The Royal Marsden and has been receiving treatment since. Throughout this time, Shiona, her family and friends have undertaken a number of exciting fundraising challenges in support of The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, including the Welsh 3000s Challenge – climbing all 15 mountain peaks over 3,000ft in Wales within 24 hours – a danceathon, swimming Loch Lomond, and running the Royal Parks Half Marathon. Shiona says: “It’s safe to say that the care I receive is outstanding and is keeping me alive. Channelling my energies into fundraising to support ongoing research projects is my way of saying thank you to The Royal Marsden – giving something back while keeping fit and active doing the challenges that I love!”

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YOUR STORIES

Over to you... What you’ve been saying on social media Natasha (@NatashaA4C) Bertie & team had a fundraising session at school today – we sold books, strawberries/marshmallows dipped in choc with sprinkles, we had a raffle & the team will count the money on Monday!

Jamie and Becky Gunning on their coast-to-coast trek

Life’s ups and downs Jamie and Becky Gunning took on the monumental challenge of hiking 315km across England in just seven days this summer, raising over £25,000 for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity. The coast-to-coast walk between St Bees Head on the west coast of Cumbria to Robin Hood’s Bay on the east coast of North Yorkshire saw them complete more than a

marathon a day, ascending and descending the equivalent height of Mount Everest. Becky said: “Our beloved cousin Ems died in September 2018, aged 36, after being diagnosed with cancer. The treatment she received at The Royal Marsden was second to none and she wanted us to fundraise for the Charity to give hope for others in the future.”

THIS SUMMER, Royal Marsden patient Lucy Davis took part in the NHS Big Tea, not only to celebrate the NHS but also to raise money for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity. After being given the news in 2013 that her melanoma had spread and was terminal, Lucy was put on an immunotherapy drug trial at The Royal Marsden, followed by targeted treatment. Six years later, her cancer is under control and she is enjoying watching her young children grow up. Lucy said: “The Royal Marsden is a huge part of my life and I owe the staff there so much. The difference the Charity makes is frankly wonderful, and I thought raising money by people popping by, eating cake and drinking tea sounded like a pleasure!”

Warrenders (@warrendersjewellers) We are over the moon to hear that @royalmarsden raised £1.65 Million from the #MarsdenMarch this year. A wonderful achievement for a very worthy cause!

Lorna Flower It’s incredibly heartwarming to see the difference the psychological support service makes to patients and their families Join the conversation on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook @royalmarsden The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity 13

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clear in 2014 was particularly special, as we walked with a group of family and friends.”

10 out of 10! The Banham Marsden March turns 10 next year – and some loyal supporters have taken part in every walk so far. Four of them to tell us why they’ll be marching again in 2020 On 3 May 2020, thousands of supporters will walk with us on the 10th Banham Marsden March. We want to celebrate our first decade in style, with more walkers than ever before. We’re aiming to raise £2 million for a very special cause: the construction of the Oak Cancer Centre in Sutton. Due to open in 2022, the new centre will vastly improve our patient facilities and help to speed up the development of new treatments. Here, four supporters who have marched with us every year tell us why they’ll be doing it for the 10th time. Laura Parker “The Banham Marsden March is the one thing I do every year that I always look

Above: Laura Parker at the finish in 2014. Left: Mary Woods. Top right: Alison Thomas with her team, the Walkie Talkies. Above right: Laura Isaacs

forward to. My husband and I vowed that for as long as we can, we will do the march; it really is the highlight of our year. It is emotionally uplifting and truly inspiring. “We walk to say thank you – and because we want everybody, no matter where they live, to have the same standard of treatment and support we had. The year I celebrated getting the all-

Mary Woods “The Banham Marsden March is a key event in my diary each year. It’s an opportunity to support the hospital and, more importantly, the patients as they follow their journey with cancer. The number of walkers increases every year, and each has their own personal reason for walking because cancer touches everyone’s life in some way. “As a Nurse Consultant at The Royal Marsden, I’m proud to add my support and join in this event each year to raise awareness and funds for the ongoing treatment and care offered by the hospital.” Alison Thomas “I signed up for the first Marsden March with a group of friends after I had been treated for breast cancer. It was my goal to be fit enough to do it and it showed what brilliant support I had – and still have – around me. “Every year since then, one of my friends has been affected by cancer, and we sign up again. It is always a celebration of life and friendship, and a reminder that not everyone is as lucky

The 10th Banham Marsden March takes place on Sunday 3 May 2020. Visit royalmarsden.org/ march to sign up today!

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MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Look to the stars Every December, supporters, patients and staff gather by the Christmas trees at our Chelsea and Sutton hospitals for our annual Celebrate a Life carol services, where we celebrate the lives of those dear to us. The trees are decorated with thousands of stars, each with the name of someone special handwritten in the centre. Chris O’Rourke and her family have named a star in memory of

her husband Mick, who died on Christmas Eve 2016 aged 67 after he was diagnosed with a rare type of melanoma. She says: “We take part because The Royal Marsden allowed Mick to share eight and a half more years with his family. If it hadn’t have been for the hospital, we wouldn’t have had him for that long.” To name a star, visit royalmarsden. org/star or call 020 7808 2233

as I am. I think the first year my daughters took part was the most memorable for me.” Laura Isaacs “I will always feel gratitude towards The Royal Marsden. Both my grandad and I have received first-class treatment from this amazing hospital. I’ll never forget how they supported me through treatment for acute myeloid leukaemia almost 12 years ago and saved my life. “Since then, I have wanted to give something back by raising money for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity. My mum, my dad and I have completed all of the walks, often in fancy dress. We love taking part and supporting the work of The Royal Marsden – real-life superheroes!”

Last year’s Celebrate a Life service in Chelsea

Write your Will for free The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity is working with The National Free Wills Network to offer our supporters the opportunity to have their will written or amended free of charge. We hope that once you have considered your loved ones, you’ll be inspired to kindly leave a gift in your Will to us – although there is no obligation to do so. Charlie Booth, Head of Legacies at the Charity, said: “Leaving a gift in your Will is a big decision. But it’s one that will help make a real difference to the lives of people touched by cancer, long into the future. “Thanks to this support, we can fund The Royal Marsden’s research

into new treatments, saving the lives of future cancer patients.” Royal Marsden patient Lottie, who featured in our recent ‘Giving back to the future’ campaign (see page 3), was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia when she was just two years old. Thanks to advances in research, the survival rate for children’s cancers has more than doubled in the last 40 years. Lottie’s grandmother, Sheila, said: “Giving to the Charity helps ensure that children like Lottie benefit from the best research in the world.” Find out more at royalmarsden.org/freewill The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity 15

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Together we walk 10 thA nniversa r y

Join us on 3 May 2020 for the special tenth anniversary of The Banham Marsden March. This year, every step you take of the 5 or 15 mile walk will help us build The Oak Cancer Centre. This brand-new facility will speed up our research into life-saving treatments and ensure we can be there for everyone who needs us.

Sign up at royalmarsden.org/march Registered Charity No. 1095197

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