Making a Difference

Your support helps us make a difference to cancer patients, both now and in the future.

Our kind supporters make The Christie special. Without the generous donations received through our charity, we would not be able to carry out our world-class research programme, or give our patients the best possible experience when they visit the hospital.

Please read the stories below from our patients, fundraisers and staff to find out some of the ways in which your support makes that difference.

Bringing Christie Care to Oldham

Teaching assistant Debra Walker, who lives in Oldham, was recently treated at The Christie for breast cancer: 'The journey used to take about an hour and a half each eay - when I could get a lift. I was really, really tired all the time. It's bad enough having cancer - all that travelling just made things so much worse.'

The Oldham radiotherapy centre is run by top radiographer Julie davis, who has worked at The Christie for 20 years and is one of the UK's leading experts in image-guided radiotherapy, a techinique which offers improved accuracy of treatment.

'Magic Bullet' Treatment Success

Mel Jones is a retired ambulance driver living in Fleetwood. he was understandably distraught when he was diagnosed with a type of Non Hodgkin's Lymphoma called follicular lymphoma. Mel originally thought he would have to undergo chemotherapy, but he was lucky enough to be invited on a clinical trial for a new type of treatment called radioimmuntherapy.

As Professor Tim Illidge, from The Christie explains: 'By attaching a radioactive molecule to an anti-cancer antibody, it uses that patient's immune system to kill tumour cells by the combination of radiotherapy and immunotherapy. We call it the 'magic bullet'.

Patients being treated using radioimmunotherapy need just two treatments in outpatients, instead of eight cycles of chemotherapy over six months, and so, as well as being effective, it is significantly better for the patients as it is quicker and has fewer side-effects. mel is understandably delighted, as he is very proud of his ponytail, and having this treatment has meant he hasn't lost it!

Miracle Mum and Fantastic Fundraiser

In August 1999, Debbie Worthington was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma (a cancer of the lymph system) and underwent six months of intensive chemotherapy at The Christie. Thankfully, her cancer went into remission, and since then, Debbie has organised an annual sponsored walk around Rivington Pike, near Bolton to raise money for our charity.

During the third of these walks, Debbie experienced serious stomch pains. Incredibly, she found out that the cancer had not returned, but that she was seven months pregnant - Debbie had thought that her cancer treatment had made her infertile.

Miracle baby Dylan has now started school in Bolton and his mum is still tirelessly fundraising for us. Debbie had now raised over £118,000.

Running the marathon to say thank you

Joe Elding (on the left) has always been fit - when he was 17 he completed his Army basic training and was ready to begin more training when he received the bombshell that the pains he was experiencing weren't just muscle strain but were a very aggressive form of Non Hodgkin's Lymphoma.

In 1997, Joe underwent an emergency operation at The Christie, where doctors were concerned he may not survive the night.

Luckily Joe pulled through, and had several years of chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant.

"I don't know how to explain what this hospital means to me. They not only saved my life but changed my outlook on it. If it wasn't for the ground breaking work The Christie does I wouldn't be here today."

In 2009, Joe ran the Flora London Marathon in support of our charity, in a fantastic time of 4 hours, 3 minutes (beating Gordon Ramsey!) and enjoyed it so much he is now planning a marathon bike ride from Paris to Berlin.

If Joe's story has inspired you to take part in a sponsored event, click here to see the whole range of events you can take part in in while supporting The Christie.

David and The Co-op Say 'Thank You'

Former patient David Messom recently presented a cheque for £75,000 to Dr James Wylie to say thank you for the treatment he received at The Christie when he was a patient here. As Director of Food Retailing as Co-operative Food, David nominated us as one of the charities to benefit from their second Charity Supplier Awards dinner.

The glittering event was attended by 900 people, who were entertained by comedian Dara O'Brien and former Olympic swimmer Sharron Davies.

We work with lots of different companies, who raise money for us in various ways, from events such as this one, to staff fundraising or charity of the year link ups. If you'd like to support us through your company, click here to find out more.