The family of a teenager whose life was cut short by a brain tumour has hosted a charity birthday ball in his honour, while raising money for Brain Tumour Research.
More than 250 people gathered for the event in Luton, held in honour of George Fox – affectionately known as Gorgeous George – who would have turned 16 today.
George, from Barton-le-Clay, was just 13 when he died of brain cancer in April 2022.
The gala event, held last Friday (8th November), was a fitting tribute to fun-loving George, who adored his birthday. It included a fundraising silent auction, prize raffle and a game of heads and tails.
George’s mum, Lou, 50, said: “Since George died, we still treat his birthday as a big occasion. We were touched by the people who came out and made the night so special and helped us celebrate George.”
The event, now in its third year, was initially started as a means of raising money to fund private treatment abroad for George, in a bid to save his life. Since his death, it has continued to raise more than £60,000 for the Charity to fund our vital research, in the hope that other families can be spared the pain that the Fox family have endured.
“George has brought so many people together who want to help make a difference for brain tumour patients,” said Lou. “Still, lots of people share their dismay as to how underfunded research into this disease it.
“Time has not healed the pain of losing a child to a brain tumour. We were just a normal family whose lives changed forever because of this disease and it’s because of this that we will continue to fight for those who face this devastating diagnosis.”
You can donate to us via the Gorgeous George’s 16th Birthday Party GoFundMe page.
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Published Friday 15th November 2024.