Cure Leukaemia

Glynn Purnell, Birmingham’s Michelin starred chef has become a Patron of Cure Leukaemia, the local blood cancer charity based at the Queen Elizabeth (QE) Hospital. 

Talking about his history with the charity, Glynn said: “I have been supporting Cure Leukaemia for a number of years now. It’s a charity very close to my heart and it was important to me to work with a cause I had a personal connection with.

“Cure Leukaemia is one of Birmingham’s best kept secrets. The Centre for Clinical Haematology at the QE, where the charity is based, is a world renowned centre for research and treatment of blood cancers. Its work is genuinely saving lives and making a difference to thousands of leukaemia sufferers and their families throughout the region. Becoming a Patron means a lot to me and I’m already working closely with the Cure Leukaemia team to help their vital fundraising work.”

Cure Leukaemia raises money to fund research nurses and works with leading pharmaceutical companies to bring pioneering treatments to blood cancer patients – treatments that are not currently available through the National Health Service (NHS). Cure Leukaemia General Manager Jackie Kelly explains: “To date we have brought more than £17m worth of potentially life-saving drugs to local blood cancer patients through clinical trials. We have been able to do this by funding the critical research nurses needed to run these trials. These talented nurses really are at the heart of what we do – it is their expertise that enables us to bring these drugs to patients and save lives.”

According to Jackie, Glynn becoming a Patron of the charity will have a great impact on fundraising and further boost awareness of blood cancers. She continues: “We are delighted to welcome Glynn as our Patron – he has already helped the charity tremendously over the years and we’re really excited about what we can achieve together. He is of course renowned nationally and lending his name to our charity will really help us raise more awareness. Glynn is so enthusiastic and full of ideas of how he can support us further – it’s just fantastic to have him on board.”

Glynn’s first fundraising event as Patron is already in the diary. Glynn will host an exclusive evening of Michelin star quality food at Warwickshire County Cricket Club’s brand new Jaguar Club on 5th March 2012. Demonstrating his culinary skills in a live cooking event, Glynn will be joined by fellow Cure Leukaemia Patron Ashley Giles - Warwickshire’s Director of Cricket and former England spinner, Warwickshire Captain Jim Troughton and ably assisted by Warwickshire’s Head Chef Dave Hill. 

BBC WM’s Phil Upton will host the evening, which will include a question and answer session after each course, giving guests a chance to learn from Glynn’s expertise. 

Glynn added: “I’m really looking forward to this event – not least to be cooking with Ashley and Jim, which I’m sure will be an experience in itself! Perhaps if I teach them a thing or two about cooking, they might spare the time to help me improve my bowling!”

For more information and to book tickets for the Glynn Purnell Experience at Edgbaston, please contact Ruth Saunders on 0121 371 4367 or email info@cureleukaemia.co.uk.

To find out more about Cure Leukaemia and get involved in future fundraising initiatives, visit www.cureleukaemia.co.uk  

About Cure Leukaemia

Cure Leukaemia is helping to bring pioneering drug and transplant treatments to blood cancer patients in the Midlands. The charity part-finances the world class Centre for Clinical Haematology at University Hospital Birmingham, among other centres across the Midlands, to fund life-saving clinical trials to treat terminally ill leukaemia patients.  To date Cure Leukaemia has helped to treat more than 400 patients through securing £17m worth of revolutionary drugs and funding crucial research nurses to administer these trials.  

Without expert research nurses to ensure patients are constantly monitored and cared for, these trials cannot run. The aim of Cure Leukaemia is to raise money to fund more research nurses at centres across the Midlands. Only by funding more nurses in more hospitals, can more leukaemia patients get access to potentially life-saving treatment. If you’d like to help us raise money to save lives visit www.cureleukaemia.co.uk to learn how you or your business can get involved.

23 November 2011