Help Charlie celebrate his fundraising birthday

On January 18, 2013, Charlie Craig, who will be three next month, was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML).

When the A&E doctors in the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Belfast brought Charlie’s parents, Fintan and Cliodhna Craig into a private side room and told them the devastating news, the words they clung onto were that Leukaemia these days is “very treatable”.

This summer, Charlie’s family and friends will raise funds for the Northern Ireland Children’s Cancer Unit Fund (NICCUF) at a family fun day and birthday breakfast, taking place at St Patricks Parish Centre, Chapel Hill, Lisburn from 9am-4pm on Saturday June 15.

Charlie’s Birthday Breakfast promises an all day breakfast and fun and entertainment for all the family, including a tombola, with the chance to win some fantastic prizes.

Following his diagnosis, little Charlie was immediately admitted to the Children’s Cancer Unit in the Royal Hospital, where he is currently undergoing six months of treatment.

Having recovered from the initial shock of seeing Charlie in a ward with lots of other children suffering cancer, his parents realised that it was a tough, but very special place to be.

The unit is supported by the Northern Ireland Children’s Cancer Unit Fund, a registered charity depending on donations from supporters, especially in Northern Ireland.

Medical and nursing services are provided at the fund’s dedicated unit in the hospital, where it supports the eight-bed Children’s Haematology Unit, a team of three consultants, 17 nurses, a community liaison worker, two social workers and laboratory staff in caring for children and young people.

Since its formation, the unit has contributed substantially to improved survival rates of children. If treated in time, over 75% survive cancer and 90% survive blood disorders such as leukaemia.

Money raised by NICCUF enables hospital staff to make a child’s stay in hospital more tolerable by improving the facilities, buying equipment and in general making it a happier place for a child requiring intensive treatment over a prolonged stay.

Charlie’s mum Cliodhna explained: “We would love to be able to donate funds to NICCUF in return for everything they are doing for Charlie and all the other kids.

“We invite everyone to come along to the birthday breakfast, have fun and help raise funds for this very worthy cause.

“As well as the birthday breakfast, my sister, a friend and I are doing a mini marathon on 3rd June, with all proceeds going to NICCUF.

“We are so grateful to all our family and friends who have already helped us to raise an amazing £3,000 but we would like to push our efforts even further for this extremely worthy cause.

“If you wish to donate please visit www.justgiving.com/charlie-craig”