Thank you for visiting our fundraising page.

And a BIG thankyou to all those who have contributed to the effort to fund research which, despite claiming more lives than any other form of cancer in children, receives the least funding for research from Government than any other cancer. It receives just 4% of the overall budget for research grants from all the major cancer charities.

The money raised will go directly towards research into medulloblastoma; its causes and cure. Medulloblastoma is the most common primary central nervous system tumour which arises in childhood. There are no known causes of Medulloblastoma and there is no known cure.

only half of those diagnosed with a tumour will survive, and many survivors have to cope with significant disabilities related to brain damage caused by the brain tumour or its treatment. The reason for relative lack of progress relates to the poor understanding of the biology of brain tumours compared to other childhood malignancies.

Over 450 children a year in the UK alone develop devastating brain tumours. The prognosis for children of Thomas's age with a medulloblastoma is poor. In childhood cancers, brain tumours are the leading cause of cancer related deaths in children and have recently overtaken leukaemia. The incidence of such tumours is rising. According to Dr Jillian Birch the average rise is between 1 and 3% per year (1954-1999).

"Now that we know that the rate of childrens cancer is creeping upwards, it is essential that we find out why"
-Prof Jillian Birch, Paediatric Oncology, Manchester University.

Three doctors in Thomas's home town "diagnosed" him with an ear infection. Whilst on holiday in France a GP examined Thomas and immidiately referred him to hospital for an MRI, within 24 hours the medulloblastoma tumour had been completely removed. After returning to England, despite chemotherapy, his earlier symptoms returned and an MRI confirmed that Thomas's cancer had spread extensively and to the entire length of his spinal cord. Thomas died in the arms of his devoted parents almost a month after his 2nd birthday. 

 Some of the stories of how Thomas spent some of his last special days and the fund raising effort in his name after he died can be read at  http://iccoventry.icnetwork.co.uk/search.cfm?searchscope=50003&query=thomas+archer&num=10&start=0and

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/topstories/tm_objectid=16330998%26method=full%26siteid=94762-name_page.html

An adjournment  debate was held in Parliament on the 28.03.06, a transcript of the debate can be read at http://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2006-03-28b.825.0&m=1791#g825.2

To read about the latest fundraising events:www.justgiving.com/ronforthomas

Hopefully one day, perhaps in our lifetime , we might all be able to say we played a part in preventing children dying of Cancer. Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to donate: Children's Brain Tumour Research will receive your money faster and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you.

www.justgiving.com/thomasarcher

Or cheques can be made payable to Childrens Brain Tumour Research and sent to Emma Pearson, Thomas Archer Memorial Fund, University of Nottingham, Development office, Kings Meadow Campus, Lenton Lane, Nottingham, NG7 2NA. Tel. 0115 951 3724

With sincere thanks for your support.  George and Karen