Fenn Wright announce new Charity of the Year
We are pleased to announce that the charity we will be supporting this year will be the Tom Bowdidge Youth Cancer Foundation, as voted for by the team at Fenn Wright. Founded in 2014 in Tom’s memory, the charity supports teenagers and young adults with cancer aged 13-24 along with their families and has raised £1.9m to date.
Tom died of a Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumour and extensive peritoneal disease in October 2013, at the age of 19.
Tom knew there were many things that needed to be done for teenagers and young adults who were facing cancer. He discussed this with his parents, Richard and Nikki, and planned to set up his own charity. Sadly, he died too soon but following Tom’s wishes, they knew exactly what they needed to focus on.
For many, a cancer diagnosis in the family can cost on average £750 per month in lost income and increased expenditure. Often a parent will have to give up work or take unpaid leave to become the full-time carer for their child. There are also increased travel costs for many young cancer patients who have to travel to specialist cancer centres across the UK for life-saving treatment. Household bills are higher too, as more time is spent at home with increased use of electricity and heating. Suddenly, paying the rent or mortgage becomes a major concern when all energy should be put into caring for the young person fighting cancer.
Money raised by the Tom Bowdidge Youth Cancer Foundation provides support for all this and so much more. The money has created 8 rooms and age-appropriate spaces across the country and £500,000 has been spent on funding a research project looking into targeted treatments for teenage cancers.
More than £285,000 has helped provide support for families and young people, aged 13-24 years, with everyday essentials such as travel and parking costs, food, heating, iPads, laptops, wigs and clothes.