AN EARLSDON family fundraised in memory of their six year old son which has helped fund two vital new research projects into his type of cancer.
Scott and Sarah Crowther’s son died from alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma cancer in 2019 and his parents have been raising cash for childhood cancer since.
Scott and Sarah said they realised that raising money to fund new research was the only way to make serious improvements to treatments for young parents.
Bens parents set up Pass The Smile For Ben as a special named fund at Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group to help fund research for rhabdomyosarcoma.
Scott and Sarah said: “We named our fund Pass The Smile to help everyone remember Ben’s amazing smile.
“He was an enormous part of our world and we miss him desperately every single day.”
They have raised nearly £250,000 in five years ad has been able to support two new research projects.
Scott and Sarah said: “It fills us with prd epic that Pass The Smile For Ben part-funded these projects.
“It is a testament to our wonderful friends, family and community that they continue to remember Ben with their fundraising, and we are very grateful for their support.”
Led by Professor Janet Shipley, at theide to fund any new research that will lead to more effective and kinder treatments for future patients.
“Ben would have thought it was beyon Institute of Cancer Research, and Dr Darrell Green at the University of East Anglia, the new projects aim to improve the treatment and care of young rhabdomyosarcoma patients.”
Prof Shipley added: “We are very excited to pursue our research using the state-of-the-art technology and analyses that we have established.
“We really hope and expect this will improve the outlook for future rhabdomyosarcoma patients.”
Dr Green’s project focuses on the fusion-positive type of rhabdomyosarcoma, a type where patients have one of two mutant genes.
He said: “Our project is intended to better understand the finer details of rhabdomyosarcoma molecular biology so that we can eventually develop new medicines that target specific abnormalities.
“This approach means that medicines will be both more effective and gentler on the rest of the body.”
Sarah Evans, Head of Research at CCLG, said: “We are incredibly moved by our Special Named Funds’ dedication to funding research and raising awareness of childhood cancer.
“Thanks to their dedication, and the support of their communities, we can support pioneering projects like these.”
