Celebrating 20 years of fundraising

11:44am Monday 3rd March 2008

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A MOTHER'S relentless battle to help find a cure for leukaemia, after the death of her son nearly 20 years ago, has resulted in well over half a million pounds being raised for Leukaemia Research.

Nicole Harris and her team of friends are celebrating the 20th anniversary of the founding of the Bromsgrove branch of the charity. Over the years they have raised £650,000 for Leukaemia Research with hugely successful fun runs and bikeathons.

“We are as keen as the first day to battle on to make a difference in the cure for leukaemia."

Fundraiser Nicole Harris

Each year they go to the Leukaemia Research conference to keep up to date with the latest research hoping for a breakthrough cure for the cancer, which took the life of Marc Harris when he was only nine.

Nicole said: "Marc died in April 1989 after a fight of about 15 months. I joined the fund six weeks after he was diagnosed and have been the chairman of it since 1989. I have been surrounded for the past 19 years by a great committee who have been very supportive and keen to find a cure and I feel very privileged to have worked with such fantastic friends. We are all volunteers and have to find the time to organise these events, which is not always easy."

Nicole, who first responded to an advert in the Advertiser/Messenger for fundraisers, added: "We are as keen as the first day to battle on to make a difference in the cure for leukaemia and are organising our 20th fun run on May 11 at Bromsgrove Rugby Club."

She said she wants 2008 to be a record-breaking year, with more people than ever taking part.

Nicole added that modern treatments are a lot more successful, especially in childhood leukaemia with about 80 per cent of youngsters recovering.

"I have seen such progress over the years - there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Our branch is proud to have raised so much. All this is thanks to the generosity of Bromsgrove people," she added.

Entry forms for this year's run should be available this week and runners from last year will automatically receive them in the next few weeks. For further details email Nicole Harris on nicnoelharris@aol.com.