In March 2025, one of our Directors, Shona, received the devastating news that her 15 year old son Thomas had Leukaemia. Thomas is currently in his 2-year treatment plan and right from the start said he wanted to raise money for Leukaemia UK, to help fund research & development for kinder treatment and to raise awareness of symptoms to ensure faster diagnosis. As a business we want to support Thomas in his mission to raise much needed funds for this wonderful charity.

Fundraising for a charity like Leukaemia UK offers a way to channel that emotion into something positive and meaningful. The charity receives no government funding and relies entirely on the generosity of individuals and organisations to continue its vital work. Every pound raised supports groundbreaking research, accelerates new treatments, and ultimately helps save lives.

Leukaemia UK is also committed to driving faster diagnosis. In Thomas’s case, it took eight weeks to receive a diagnosis — eight weeks of headaches, fatigue, and unexplained weight loss. During that time, the leukaemia spread to his brain. By the time he was diagnosed, he needed high‑risk ALL treatment — something that might have been avoided with a simple blood test early on. This is why raising awareness of leukaemia symptoms and advocating for early testing is so important to us.

As Shirley Parsons enters its 21st year, we are marking this milestone with a meaningful commitment:

to raise £21,000 for Leukaemia UK.

Throughout the year, we’ll be running a series of creative fundraising events, coming together as a team, and having plenty of fun along the way. Most importantly, we are determined to show Thomas that we are right beside him — supporting him, celebrating his progress, and cheering him on as he continues to meet every challenge with incredible strength.

Together, we can make a difference for Thomas and for everyone affected by leukaemia in the future.