<p><span lang="EN-GB"> <p>As you are all aware a dear husband/father/friend, Eddie McDonald, passed away on 21/08/2011, after a long suffering battle with Leukaemia. He didn&rsquo;t give up without a fight though and was so brave and strong throughout his illness.</p> <p>Dad was diagnosed with Leukaemia in August 2005, being the man he was he managed to fight the illness twice and went into remission in 2008. Unfortunately as a result of the bone marrow transplant he was diagnosed with a disease called Graft-versus-host (GVHD).</p> <strong> <p>Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is a complication that can occur after a stem cell or bone marrow transplant in which the newly transplanted material attacks the transplant recipient's body.</p> </strong> <p>Dad went for regular treatment for this disease at St Thomas' Hospital, London and used a machine called photospheres.</p> <strong> <p>Photopheresis (ECP) is a type of medical therapy that can be used in treating patients with problems associated with cutaneous (skin) T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) such as mycosis fungoides (MF) or Sezary syndrome. ECP is also used to treat conditions including graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and organ transplant rejection</p> </strong> <p>There are not many of these machines in the UK and dad was so determined to raise enough money to buy or at least contribute towards a new machine for Kings College Hospital, London where he had been treated from day one. We have already raised 14k, after a very successful charity do back in October. Dad believed the treatment was helping, and it would be such an achievement to raise enough or at least a big chunk towards another machine in which it could help other patients.</p> <p>Dad was definitely one of a kind, such a huge character and will be greatly missed by everyone who was ever fortunate enough to meet him.</p> <p>Any donation however small or large would be greatly appreciated.</p> <p>Many Thanks</p> </span></p>