Chamber president backs groundbreaking campaign to revolutionise treatment for children battling leukaemia

Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce president Nasir Awan is calling on the business community to back a campaign that will revolutionise treatment for children with blood cancer in the UK.

Birmingham-headquartered Cure Leukaemia – the GBCC president’s charity for the next year – is funding a pioneering new paediatric transplant trials network known as ATICUS.

ATICUS (Accelerating Trials in Children Undergoing Stem Cell Transplant) is a collaboration between 11 leading UK children’s hospitals, including Birmingham Children’s Hospital, designed to revolutionise clinical trial access for children battling blood cancer.

The initiative launched in September with support from football legend and Cure Leukaemia patron Gary Lineker.

And Greater Birmingham businesses are being invited to learn more about a £1m-a-year fundraising drive to deliver the trials.

Cure Leukaemia is hosting an event on Wednesday 4 December at the Birmingham offices of professional services firm PwC – with Dr Sarah Lawson, consultant paediatric haematologist at Birmingham Children’s Hospital joining patients and their families to discuss the pioneering Paediatric Transplant Trials Network.

Nasir, who is also the CEO of Awan Marketing International, said: “I’m delighted that once again Cure Leukaemia, as a Birmingham-based charity, is leading the way with pioneering clinical trials that will have a far-reaching impact. 

“These trials are critical as they will give hope to children all over the country who are battling blood cancer.

“Four children are diagnosed with blood cancer every day. This is a heartbreaking statistic – but in supporting this campaign, we as a business community can play a part in improving the outcomes for children who are battling blood cancer.”   

At the heart of the £1m-a-year fundraising campaign is the Club 10 scheme, in which businesses can join the Cure Leukaemia family by pledging £10,000 a year towards the paediatric trials network.

Club 10 members will receive quarterly updates on the progress of the ATICUS network, a table of 10 to an annual thank-you dinner and have the chance meet clinicians and research nurses to hear how the money is helping blood cancer patients.

Businesses who have pledged their support to Club 10 so far include Climate FM, CSW Cladding, Media Travels, Salesforce, Cassidy Group, Endurance Zone and Westbridge Foods.

Find out more information about the 4 December event.

Pictured: Nasir (right) with Cure Leukaemia CEO James McLaughlin