Young Lives vs Cancer
Pilgrims’ Parents Association quiz night raises almost £2,500 for children and young people with cancer.
In February 2020, Pilgrims’ School PPA (Pilgrims’ Parents Association) organised a quiz to raise funds to help children and young people with cancer. One of the parents, Robin James’ son, Henry, had recently been diagnosed with cancer and on the evening of the quiz, Robin spoke powerfully from his personal experience of childhood cancer and the support from the charity Young Lives vs Cancer (formerly CLIC Sargent).
Incredibly sadly, in September 2020, Henry passed away from Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, aged 13 which has been a devastating loss for Henry’s family; Robin, Agata and Edward, extended family and friends. His sad passing also had an enormous effect on the Pilgrims’ School community in Winchester, Henry was a very popular boy, particularly in his year group (Year 8).
Robin James said: “Despite the quiz, raising funds for Young Lives vs Cancer, being last February just before Covid restrictions begun, we wanted to express our thanks to the PPA for supporting a charity that helps many local children and young people with cancer. The charity has a team based on the Piam Brown Ward at Southampton General Hospital and they provide huge emotional, practical, financial and bereavement support to families like mine at an incredibly traumatic time in people’s lives. I would like to add that the support from Pilgrims’ School for Henry’s brother, Edward (now 10), has been fantastic.”
Anna Kennedy, Chair of the PPA said:
“I was at the quiz last year and was really moved by how brave Robin was at standing up and letting us all know what they had gone through as a family. Our thoughts are with all the family now for their terrible loss. It was our great pleasure to present the charity with £2,480 to help continue their essential work.”
Childhood cancer is rare, but unfortunately, it still means that one in 500 children will be diagnosed with cancer before the age of 14. Cancer remains the single largest cause of death from disease in children and young people in the UK. Young Lives vs Cancer does not receive government funding and relies on the generosity of its supporters.
Young Lives vs Cancer, Fundraising Engagement Manager for Hampshire, Liz Blunt said:
“My thoughts are with Henry’s family and friends. To cope with the loss of a child is unimaginable and it’s so important that my Young Lives vs Cancer colleagues are there to support Henry’s family and others. I would like to say a huge thank you to Pilgrims’ School and PPA for their fantastic support, which means we can continue to support families with our vital service.”
