A determined husband has honoured his late wife’s memory by raising over £100,000 for The Christie Charity, allowing The Christie to appoint 2 clinical research fellows.
Mike Rooney, aged 68 from Todmorden, was set on making a difference after his wife, Janet, who was treated at The Christie, died from bile duct cancer in April 2023.
The former property agent, with the support of his family and friends, raised over £100,000 to tackle rare forms of cancer like Janet’s.
In 2023 Mike, alongside his close friends Nigel Tobias, Paul Whitehurst and David Brooks, took on the gruelling 500-mile Camino de Santiago trek which started in France, crossed the Pyrenees and ended in Santiago in North West Spain taking a minimum of 35 days to complete.
Mike’s fundraising has enabled the creation of the Janet Rooney HPB Fellowship, which has appointed Dr Paula Lynch and Dr Sean Morgan, clinical research fellows in hepato-pancreatic-biliary (HPB) and neuroendocrine tumours (NET).
HPB is a broad term for cancers that affect the liver, gallbladder, pancreas and bile ducts. Some of these cancers are rare; in the UK, only 1,000 cases of bile duct cancer are diagnosed each year.
NETs are rare tumours that develop in the neuroendocrine system, which is a complex network made up of nerve and gland cells that produce hormones. These tumours can be difficult to diagnose, as symptoms may not appear for years.
Dr Lynch and Dr Morgan’s time will be split between clinics and research; allowing them to treat HPB patients of today, whilst having ringfenced research time to study more efficient treatment options for patients of the future.
Dr Paula Lynch, who arrives at The Christie from St Vincent’s UCD Cancer Centre in Dublin and is now living in South Manchester, has worked in medical oncology for 5 years. Dr Lynch said “HPB cancers and neuroendocrine tumours are rare diseases that have historically received less research investment than other more common cancers. For the patients living with these diseases though, the need for better treatment is just as urgent.”
“What excites me most about joining The Christie is the opportunity to combine world-leading clinical care for today's patients, whilst contributing to research that could fundamentally change treatment options available for future patients.”
“Thanks to the selfless generosity of Mike and the support of The Christie Charity, we now have an opportunity to help change the landscape and invest in an area with real unmet need.”
Dr Sean Morgan, age 32 originally from Belfast and now living in Cheshire, has worked in oncology for 4 years. Dr Morgan said: “I’ve spent most of my career in oncology, and The Christie has always had a reputation for being at the cutting-edge of cancer treatment and research. To now be a part of that journey is a privilege.
“The clinical expertise and research ambition here at The Christie, combined with the generosity of people like Mike makes this all possible. Without Christie Charity supporters, we simply wouldn’t be able to ask the questions that need to be asked.”
Mike says: “Losing Janet was devastating, but I wanted to channel my grief into something meaningful. Janet’s cancer was hard to detect as it was hidden behind the liver and there is little research into bile duct cancer so I wanted to try and do something about that if I could.
“The overwhelming support I received for my fundraising was truly heartwarming. I’ve met both Dr Lynch and Dr Morgan and I’m thrilled they have been appointed as the new fellows. I look forward to hearing about any developments in the treatment of this cancer.”
Louise Hadley, Chief Executive of The Christie Charity, said: "Clinical research is critical to accelerating discoveries from the laboratory into clinical practice. That is why The Christie Charity is committed to supporting the training of the next generation of clinical researchers so that they are equipped with the skills and expertise to enable them to succeed and become the clinical leaders of the future.
“This fellowship, made possible by the incredible generosity and commitment of Mike and his friends in memory of Janet, is a lasting legacy that will drive innovation and improve outcomes for patients facing these challenging cancers."
Research such as this is central to The Christie Charity's commitment to supporting The Christie hospital’s vision of ‘learning from every patient’ and trebling the number of patients participating in research by 2030. Studies have shown that cancer patients treated at research-intensive hospitals have better outcomes than those treated in hospitals with little or no research activity. The Charity has pledged to support and fund this goal with £30m over the next 4 years to accelerate research and innovation in Manchester, with the ultimate aim of bringing tomorrow’s treatments to patients faster.
To support the research work of The Christie Charity, please go to Donate today or ring 0161 446 3988.
The Christie Charity supports the work of The Christie NHS Foundation Trust providing enhanced services over and above what the NHS funds. This includes money for care and treatment, research, education, and extra patient services. Gifts from the public make a huge difference to the care and treatment that The Christie is able to provide to cancer patients and their families.