New trust set up to fund research into bone cancer

From the archive, first published Monday 10th Dec 2007.

WHEN Guy Francis developed a rare and devastating cancer, the young York man vowed to raise hundreds of thousands of pounds to fund research into the illness.

Now, five years after his death at the age of only 23, his dream has turned into reality as the Bone Cancer Research Trust funds no fewer than five different investigations into osteosarcoma.

Guy's mother Ros, of Wheldrake, said the Trust had been formed through a merger between the original Guy Francis Bone Cancer Research Fund and five other small groups and individuals across the country, who had also lost teenagers and young people to the illness and wanted to fund research as well.

She said the Guy Francis fund alone had raised more than £100,000, with further fundraising still being planned.

But by pooling resources, enthusiasm and skills with other groups across the country, the trust had been able to make a difference by funding five separate research projects to date.

She said the trust was supported by an advisory panel of eminent oncologists and orthopaedic experts.

Guy, who died after a six-year battle for life, suffered from osteosarcoma in his leg, an illness which mainly affects children and teenagers.

Ros said there was no Government, NHS or charitable funding for research into the cause of the cancer in Britain, and yet the number of new cases in teenagers was rising.

She said when Guy was growing up, he had always enjoyed life to the full.

He first fell ill in 1996, with Osteosarcoma diagnosed four days before his 18th birthday in February, 1997.

"He began fundraising by doing a tandem parachute jump and abseiling off the Humber Bridge," she said.

When his body could not take any more chemotherapy, he chose to be at home, but was not going to waste a moment.

"He became engaged to his girlfriend, hired a stretch limo and went to an important match for the Middlesbrough team he supported.

"Guy was so strong and such an inspiration to everyone.

"He was extremely grateful for all that the medical teams had done for him, giving him the chance to enjoy an extra five-and-a-half years of life.

"He felt it was essential that there should be research into Osteosarcoma and started fundraising himself.

"His family and close friends promised him that this would be continued in his name - the Guy Francis Bone Cancer Research Fund."