Press release - 8th May 2009
100,000 strong Christie petition delivered to Downing Street
Two year old Poppy Iyoha, daughter of former cancer patient Emmanuel from Reddish. The two year old was conceived with sperm frozen 17 years earlier before Emmanuel had chemotherapy for Hodgkin’s lymphomaCancer patients, fundraisers and Christie charity representatives gathered on Downing Street today to deliver a 100,000 name petition demanding the return of their £6.5 million lost in the banking collapse.
In just two months, the ‘Cash Back for Christie’ campaign has had massive support from the public, celebrities and political leaders, including Nick Clegg and George Osbourne and has been noted at the highest level.
The campaign was launched on March 11th to overturn the decision made by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) to deny The Christie Charity compensation for the £6.5 million it lost in the Icelandic banking collapse. The charity raises around £13 million a year to support The Christie – one of Europe’s leading cancer centres.
Christie Charity representatives met Prime Minister Gordon Brown in Manchester on March 12th to explain the cancer charity’s case. It has also been regularly raised as an issue in the House of Commons over the last two months, including at Prime Ministers Questions.
Around 50 fundraisers, along with patients and charity representatives, made the trip from Manchester to the capital early this morning to handover the petition to Number 10. Fourteen MPs from across Greater Manchester representing all parties joined the group on Downing Street for the high profile delivery.
(L to R) Former Christie patient Debbie Worthington from Wigan, Christie nurse Helen Ferns and former patient Emmanuel Iyoha from ReddishEn route to London the group were thrilled to hear that Conservative leader David Cameron was in full support of the campaign and wanted to meet them. They diverted across London to St Pancras train station where he told them; “I’ve heard what has happened - it is very frustrating for you, very bad luck to lose the money raised to help cancer patients. We are trying to push the government into helping you. Good luck with all your campaigning."
Former Christie patient, 38 year old Debbie Worthington from Wigan made the trip to London today. She was diagnosed with Hodgkins lymphoma, a cancer of the lymph system, in August 1999, but went on to have a baby in 2002. Of today’s experience, she said; “It was a great honour to have been asked to represent the people of not just Manchester, but of the North West as a whole. The Christie hospital saved my life and without them I wouldn’t have my little boy Dylan. That money is for people like me, and getting it back would make such a difference.”
Poppy with Christie nurse and former cancer patient Helen FernsSomeone who knows what it is like to be a cancer patient, both personally and professionally, is Christie nurse Helen Ferns from Northwich. She was treated at The Christie for breast cancer in 2007. She said; “As a nurse and breast cancer patient I’ve seen first hand what a difference every penny makes and how hard our supporters work to raise money for us. That’s why this campaign has been so important and why there’s so much passion and determination behind it.”
47 year old former cancer patient Emmanuel Iyoha from Reddish also entered the famous street today with his daughter Poppy. The two year old was conceived with sperm frozen 17 years earlier before he had chemotherapy for Hodgkin’s lymphoma. He said; “It was really exciting to be here today and be part of the petition delivery. It was people power at its best. Let’s hope this sends the message loud and clear to the government to help the charity recover the lost funds. This money is so important to patients like me.”
Christie fundraisers descend on the capital.Lord Keith Bradley is chairman of the Christie charity. He added; “This petition is a loud and passionate call for the government to help bring this money back to where it rightfully belongs. 100,000 voices in just two months. This money was raised by generous people and invested in good faith in a British bank. We hope that the numbers and passion behind this campaign help bring the money back.”
The fourteen MPs at Downing Street were;
Labour
Sir Gerald Kaufman (Manchester Gorton), Graham Stringer (Manchester Blackley), Tony Lloyd (Manchester Central), Barbara Keeley (Worsley), Ian McCartney (Makerfield), Dr Brian Iddon (Bolton South East), Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley), Jim Dobbin (Heywood and Middleton), David Crausby (Bolton North East)
Liberal Democrat
Andrew Stunell (Hazel Grove), Mark Hunter, (Cheadle), John Leech (Withington), Paul Rowen (Rochdale)
Conservative
Graham Brady (Altrincham & Sale West)
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The Christie in Manchester is one of the leading cancer centres in Europe - registering around 12,500 new patients and treating about 40,000 patients every year.
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