Rob George Foundation ensures Rob continues to make a difference

Rob George's parents Philip and Lorraine laugh spontaneously but with a glint of the confessional in their eyes.

"He would have been celebrating," they say. It is clearly a euphemism for a few celebratory drinks.

Lorraine adds: "Rob loved life and he lived it to the full. I don't think his 24th birthday would have been an opportunity he would have passed over."

Rob died when he was 21 but his parents and the trustees of the Rob George Foundation have ensured his philosophy towards life has continued.

Pip said: "His last words to us were 'Be happy'. We took that quite seriously.

"Rob had wanted to make a difference in his life. He was someone who liked to step up.

"I think he would have made a difference in whatever field he ended up in.

"When he knew he was terminally ill, he was keen there would be a legacy which would live on."

"That was his only sadness," added Lorraine.

"He never sad 'Why me'. His sadness was he would not get the chance to make a difference. We said we would do that for him."

Rob, who went to Colchester Royal Grammar School, was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia in the summer of 2011 while he studying for a degree in Geography and Management at Loughborough University.

He underwent chemotherapy at Addenbrookes Hospital in Cambridgeshire and by September 2012 he was in remission.

But the leukaemia returned in 2013 and despite undergoing more treatment, he died in December.

Rob's parents announced their intention to set up the foundation at his funeral and it was launched on January 4 2104, on their middle son, Sam's, birthday.

Now, just two years later they have hit an incredible milestone of raising £500,000.

They say they are enormously grateful and humbled by the support they have received.

Money has come from fundraising and donations, from young and old, from Colchester and beyond.

Two cycle rides - one from John O'Groats to Land's End and the other from Paris to Colchester - raised in the region of £110,000.

Youngsters at a nursery school re-enacted the Paris cycle ride in their playground for sponsorship, an 80-year-old who asked for donations instead of presents, children donated their pocket money.

Then there have been Christmas jumper days, donations from Rotary clubs, cricket days.

"If you add all the pennies together, you would be astonished at how much it totals," said Lorraine.

"The money raised by young people especially fills me with joy. To think so many youngsters are thinking of others is amazing."

The money is used to give other young people in need a fighting chance.

Rob was a talented sportsman, excelling at golf, hockey and cricket.

The foundation's money gives financial support to young people who demonstrate exceptional commitment or ability in the worlds of sport or the performing arts but who may be held back from pursuing their goals by their financial situation.

It is also used to give practical or financial support to youngsters with life-threatening or terminal illnesses.

Both strains of the grants allocations touch a chord with Rob's life.

Rob had to take a year out from university during his first fight with leukaemia.

As such, he was not allowed his student loan. However, as he had not abandoned his studies, he was also not allowed to claim Employment Support Allowance. Rob was too ill to work and lost his financial independence.

While Lorraine and Pip could support him, they know others are not so lucky.

Lorraine, 54, who runs the Lorraine George School of Dance, and Pip, 64, a former manager partner of Birkett Long solicitors in Colchester, want to help others in a practical way.

So far, the foundation has received 438 applications and has allocated 300 grants averaging £623.

"The applications can take your breath away.

"I have never failed to be amazed by the permutations of suffering.

"A lot of charities fund research but we pride ourselves on funding the non-sexy stuff, the practical stuff like paying for someone to put fuel in their car or clothes on their back.

"We are making a difference one individual at a time."

David Cant, a trustee of the foundation, said: "The money might give them the opportunity to carry on at university or to keep being able to do something they love.

"There is no funding for the majority of sports."

Rob's birthday will be hard for his family; anniversaries are always particularly hard.

They are, however, determined some good will come from his death.

Lorraine said: "His death left me with extraordinary energy which I had to channel positively or it would have been so destructive.

"I realised that would not help. No matter how miserable I allowed grief to make me, it would not bring Rob back.

"I wanted to channel that energy into something good.

"You have to grasp life by the scruff of the neck and not waste a single opportunity.

"I have read all those applications from people who have been turned down by other organisations. They are trying to do something amazing and are being thwarted.

"If we can help them, we will. There is a little bit of Rob in that."

Peter Edwards was 21 and in his final year of university when he found out he had testicular cancer.

Peter's final year was written off by surgery and chemotherapy but his overwhelming hope and plan was to return to repeat – and complete – his last year and get his degree.

Peter had signed a lease for his flat at university and although he had to go home to his parents because he was so ill, the rent was still due.

But as he had been forced by his illness to take a gap in his studies, he was no longer entitled to draw any of his Student Loan to help pay his living expenses.

However, because he planned to return to university when his treatment was over, Peter was not entitled to any state benefits.

Peter was penniless. His money was being eaten up by travel expenses to hospital which was miles from his home town.

Life was difficult enough, but money problems made it worse.

The Rob George Foundation was able to help with living expenses including rent on his student accommodation.

Peter completed his treatment and returned to university for his final year at which point his student loan kicked back in.

TALENTED freestyle skier Justin Taylor-Tipton has his sights set on winning an Olympic medal for Team GB.

Last winter, the 14-year-old took part in the European Free Ski Open competition and in the British championships for half pipe, slope style and ski cross.

But competing at this level comes at a price.

The Rob George Foundation was able to help support Justin with some of his season’s training costs enabling him to enter competitions this winter.

Now Justin has received an invitation from Great British head coach Pat Sharples to train with the full team at Stubai, Austria.

To contact the foundation, click here.