North Essex: £650,000 raised in Adam's name

7:00am Friday 15th August 2008

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Young cancer sufferers in north Essex will benefit from a specialist team which has been set up for children for the first time. The specialist team – the first in the UK – has been made possible after the parents of a boy who died from cancer raised £650,000.

Adam Rogers became ill in February, 2006. A scan at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, revealed he had a brain tumour.

He died five months later at his home in Little Horkesley.

His father, Mark, told the Gazette: “We wanted all children who suffer from cancer to have the same level of care as Adam received.

“Adam was acutely ill and only palliative care was possible. This is why he had a specialist nurse assigned.”

Mr Rogers, 50, and his wife, Fiona, 44, set up the Adam Rogers Trust (Art) earlier this year after talks with Dr Denise Williams, the children’s cancer consultant at Addenbrooke’s Hospital.

All children with cancer from the east of England go first to Addenbrooke’s. Many continue their treatment at home or district hospitals.

The Art Care Team, which will be based at Addenbrooke’s from January, 2009, will act as liaison.

“To set up and fund the care team for three years will cost £800,000,” said Mr Rogers. “We have been fundraising since March and now have £650,000.

“If the Trust provides the funds for three years, Addenbrooke’s will then take over the funding.”

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