When five-year-old Fabian Morley was diagnosed with Burkitt Lymphoma—a rare and aggressive form of cancer—last year, his family’s world was turned upside down.
Thanks to the expert care he received at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, Fabian completed a life-saving course of treatment and, in August, proudly rang the hospital’s end-of-treatment bell, marking the end of his challenging journey.
In a heartfelt effort to give back, Fabian’s mother Georgia Morley, along with his grandmother Jane and aunt Chantelle Joseph, set out to raise funds for the hospital and the charities that supported them during their most difficult time. Their efforts culminated in The Thunder Ball, a glamorous charity dinner held in March at the Hilton Hotel, attended by over 300 guests.
The event was supported by celebrities including cast members from Hollyoaks, Ricky Tomlinson, Claire Sweeney, and Ian ‘H’ Watkins of Steps. It was hosted by radio personalities Leanne Campbell and Pete Price, adding to the evening’s star-studded appeal.
Yesterday, Fabian and his family proudly presented donations to three charities: £18,000 to Alder Hey Children’s Charity, £10,000 to the Owen McVeigh Foundation, and £5,500 to Young Lives vs Cancer.
Their extraordinary efforts stand as a testament to resilience, gratitude, and the power of community in the face of adversity.
Georgia Morley, Fabian’s mum said:
“We owe Fabian’s life to Alder Hey and the support we received from the Owen McVeigh Foundation and Young Lives v Cancer during the darkest period of our lives is incalculable. To be able to present these charities with the funds we have raised in Fabian’s name means so much to myself, my husband Jay and my family and is a small thank you for the huge part they played in saving Fabian’s life and helping us to navigate the journey. There is no amount of money that would ever make up for the part they played in getting us to the place we are today and we will be forever grateful”.
Mark McVeigh, Owen McVeigh Foundation said:
“Donations like this enable our foundation to support families going through unbelievable trauma and allows us to bring sunshine into lives that are going through the most awful of times. We are grateful to Georgia, Jay and the Joseph family for supporting us and delighted that we were able to make happy memories for Fabian during his treatment and recovery”.
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