At the end of another hugely successful fundraising year for Cure Leukaemia, which has allowed the charity to increase its influence in the fight against blood cancer, a host of awards were distributed on an afternoon when, in truth, all the nominees and supporters were winners.

Over 100 guests were present to see the awards handed out in a ceremony hosted by Adam Joyce and Donna Alos, which included a speech from one of Cure Leukaemia’s co-founders Professor Charlie Craddock CBE outlining the importance of the charity in continuing to fund nurses and pioneering treatments for blood cancer patients.
Cure Leukaemia CEO James McLaughlin also addressed the audience and thanked them for their continuing support.

“This is the third year we have held our CL Champions awards, and each year they have grown and become better and better,” said James.

“It is a fantastic event where we are able to pass on our huge appreciation for the incredible fundraising and generosity of so many people who go above and beyond to support our charity.

“It was a wonderful afternoon spent with the CL family, and we would like to congratulate not only the winners and the nominees but thank everyone who continues to play such a crucial role in the life of the charity.”

There were some inspirational fundraisers and former patients honoured during the awards, with Brooke Evans receiving the Chairman’s Award, sponsored by Elonex, from Cure Leukaemia chairman Ian Allen.

Brooke recently started work as a nurse on the haematology ward at Birmingham’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital, the very place she was treated when being diagnosed with leukaemia at the age of 17, back in 2013. Since then Brooke has been a fantastic ambassador and fundraiser for Cure Leukaemia, as well as completing her qualifications to start her career as a nurse at the Clinical Centre for Haematology, which she did in October.

“It was a lovely event and a huge surprise for me to win the award,” said Brooke.

“I am just grateful to everyone who has helped and supported me since I was first diagnosed, from Professor Craddock and all the medical staff to my family and friends.

“Cure Leukaemia do such a fantastic job to help patients like me, and that is why I have been so keen to try and help with their activities whenever I can. From my work as a nurse I can see just how much more there is to do and how many more patients need help, so I remain committed to helping Cure Leukaemia as much as possible in the future.”
Another patient who continues to inspire is Jenna Ostrowski (pictured) who, just over a year after being diagnosed with leukaemia, was part of Team Revolution which cycled the 500km from London to Paris in September.

Jenna, her fiancée Matt Greenaway and her friends and family have now raised over £25,000 for Cure Leukaemia, and she received the Cure Leukaemia Nurses Award at the event.

Mark Nicholas is another former leukaemia patient who has bounced back from his battle with leukaemia, following up last year’s Velo – which he completed just prior to undergoing a stem cell transplant – by being part of a team in this year’s London to Paris ride. Marco’s Tour De Cure team raised over £22,000 for Cure Leukaemia from their involvement in L2P, and they were named CL ‘Team of the Year’ at the awards ceremony.

The award for the wackiest challenge of the year went to Dr Thomas Holdstock, from Drive System Design in Leamington Spa, who rode the small matter of 3,200 miles across America from Los Angeles to New York, and raised in excess of £8,000.