On Thursday 25th July, 2013, LOORG welcomed Dyfed Powys Police Federation to Liverpool.
The group raised an incredible £500 for the Eye Tumour Research Fund in memory of ex. Inspector, Mr Norman Welch, who sadly passed away earlier this year. We were also joined by Mr Welch’s wife, Elaine, and daughter Caitlyn, who very kindly raised a further £740.00 in charitable donations. Dr Sarah Lake showed the group around the laboratory facilities and discussed the ground breaking research carried out in Liverpool. This was an excellent way to show first-hand exactly where vital donations go, and the importance of our supporters for advancing research. Every penny raised for the Eye Tumour Research Fund is spent benefitting the patients of the Royal Liverpool Hospital, and furthering research into rare eye cancer. We are very grateful for Mr Welch's friends and family's support. Thank you. The Liverpool Ocular Oncology Research Group is delighted to hear that LOOC supporter- ‘See the Future’, is on track for another fantastic fundraising event later this year...their second charity ball to raise money for research into eye conditions which can lead to devastating sight loss.
Following a successful event in 2012 which raised £2,660, Leanne Greengrass is currently making preparations for the second ‘See the Future’ charity ball on Friday 20th September 2013. Leanne, founder of See the Future, was inspired to set up the cause after her mother Jacqueline was diagnosed with eye cancer following a routine eye exam. The event, which is to be held at Woodbury Park Hotel 2013, will feature a champagne reception and three course meal. East Devon Dance Crew will also be returning to entertain guests on the night. There will be a live and silent auction – at last year’s event prizes were donated by Sir Cliff Richard and Dame Judy Dench. For more information or for tickets please call Leanne 07934690466. For updates and the latest news on the event, visit See the Future’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/See-the-future/283954875008380?group_id=0 Amazingly, See the Future recently became a charitable trust, with the aim to raise money for research into eye conditions which can lead to devastating sight loss. Congratulations from everyone at LOORG!! On Friday 14th December, the Liverpool Ocular Oncology Research Group (LOORG) had the pleasure of showing Mrs Jean Wall and friends around the research labs, giving a unique insight into the collaborative work of the group.
Jean has been an active donor and supporter of the Eye Tumour Research Fund (ETRF) since she was diagnosed with a very rare eye cancer over two years ago. She subsequently received treatment at the Liverpool Ocular Oncology Centre (LOOC), Royal Liverpool Hospital, and like the vast majority of patients to receive treatment at the Centre, Jean had never heard of eye cancer before her own diagnosis. The laboratory tours are an excellent way to highlight the ground breaking research carried out in Liverpool, and the unique links between the clinical and research staff. Dr Martina Angi and Dr Helen Kalirai talked Jean and friends through the tissue culture, molecular biology laboratories and PCR suite. This was an excellent way to show first-hand exactly where vital donations go, and the importance of our supporters for advancing research. Thank you to everyone who has supported LOORG, ETRF & LOOC in 2012, and Happy New Year! A patient of the Liverpool Ocular Oncology Centre (LOOC) was awarded a certificate of appreciation on Friday 6th July, after raising over £4,000 for charity.
Mrs Jean Wall was presented the certificate by Consultant Ophthalmologist, Professor Heinrich Heimann, and the RLBUHT clinical team, in recognition of her brave and gallant fundraising efforts for the Eye Tumour Research Fund following treatment for eye cancer. Since being diagnosed with a choroidal malignant melanoma in 2011, Jean has endeavoured to raise funds on behalf of the specialised unit at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital. Jean was born in Liverpool but later moved to Manchester as a child. She would never have guessed that the unfortunate diagnosis would bring her back to Liverpool for treatment, and a further six operations on her eye. Jean was taken aback by the level of support shown from family, friends and neighbours following her diagnosis. And, last Christmas instead of presents, Jean selflessly requested donations to the Eye Tumour Research Fund. The Liverpool Ocular Oncology Centre is one of a few dedicated centres in the UK specialising in eye cancer. The Centre was designated a 'Supra-Regional Service' by the National Specialist Commissioning Advisory Group in 1997 (i.e., 'NSCAG') at the Department of Health in London. Mrs Wall said: “I was extremely impressed with the wonderful team at the centre. Everyone from the nurses, reception staff, surgery team and Professor Heimann, have been fantastic. They are always so efficient and they really make the effort to get to know you and care. You always hear about the bad press but never the good. I want people to know that even if I was a millionaire I couldn’t have received better treatment”. Thanks to the support of Jean and other fundraisers, the Eye Tumour Research Fund has enabled LOOC to purchase special cameras that produce wide-angle images of the back of the eye, thereby enhancing safety and improving our teaching opportunities. We have also set up an ocular oncology research laboratory, which in turn has enabled us to establish our own facilities for genetic analysis of ocular tumours, and improve patient care. Donations from our own patients allow us to keep going with the essential research into all forms of ocular tumours until we receive further support from larger charities. Thank you on behalf of all the Liverpool Ocular Oncology Centre and Liverpool Ocular Oncology Research Group. On Tuesday 10th April, founder of the ‘Eye Feel Good’ charity, Richard Fee, and ten fellow fundraisers visited the Liverpool Ocular Oncology Centre (LOOC) and presented a cheque for £1,000 to the Eye Tumour Research Fund.
Eye Feel Good is a charity very close to Richard’s heart. It was formed in October 2009 after his wife, Annemarie Fee, was diagnosed with Ocular Melanoma. Following Annemarie’s treatment, Richard decided to raise money for the Royal Liverpool Hospital in appreciation for the level of care that she received. Richard was subsequently approached by various people in the community who wanted to help raise money to help local cancer charities. Very quickly the momentum gathered pace and Richard saw an opportunity to form a proper charity. This is the second time in two years that Richard has presented a cheque to Professor Bertil Damato, Consultant Ophthalmologist and Head of the Liverpool Ocular Oncology Centre and the charity are certainly showing no signs of slowing down! Professor Damato said: “This large donation to the Eye Tumour Research Fund is very precious to us, because it is such a powerful gesture from a grateful patient and her loved ones, and also because of opportunities it creates for us in our research. The Liverpool Ocular Oncology Centre is one of the largest units of its kind in the world, treating more than 250 new patients with ocular melanoma each year. We have maximized this unique opportunity by creating the Liverpool Ocular Oncology Research Group (LOORG), headed by an internationally-renowned pathologist and scientist, Professor Sarah Coupland. This research has already transformed our clinical practice and has enabled other research projects to take place. Eye cancer specialists and scientists all around the world are following our lead and using methods we have developed in Liverpool. None of this would have been possible without the generous donations we have received from our patients." Professor Bertil Damato and Miss Dawn Roberts had the pleasure of meeting married couple, Tracy and Robert Cirin on Thursday 24th November 2011. The inspirational pair raised over £3,500 for the Eye Tumour Research Fund, after challenging themselves to run The Great Eastern Half Marathon.
Aged just 30; Tracy was 24 weeks pregnant with twins when she received the devastating news that she had Ocular Melanoma. Tracy was closely monitored by the Liverpool Ocular Oncology Centre at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital, a specialist centre of excellence in the UK, and with the loving support of her husband, she insisted on carrying her twins to full term before undergoing treatment. In June 2010 and at 38 weeks pregnant, Tracy gave birth to two healthy baby girls, Sophie and Chloe. A month later, she received treatment at the Liverpool Ocular Oncology Centre. Tracy said: “It was down to the research at the Liverpool Ocular Oncology Centre that the clinicians were able to advise I could wait for the girls to be born rather than having them induced early, putting their lives at risk. As you can imagine this is something Rob and I are very grateful for... As a thank you for all the help and support and for giving me a second chance to spend time with my lovely family, I wanted to do something that I wouldn’t have even attempted this time last year but will now, A CHALLENGE!” Incredibly, the couple raised £3,588 for The Eye Tumour Research Fund, which will help fund vital new equipment and research. Click here to read in full Rob & Tracy’s inspiring story. If you would like to make a donation to the Eye Tumour Research Fund and support Rob and Tracy Cirin in their fundraising efforts, you can do so by sending a cheque to: General Office, Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Prescot Street, Liverpool L7 8XP, made payable to: 'The RL&BUH Trust Funds-Eye Tumour Research Fund’. |