Registered Charity Number 1085775

LATEST NEWS Just been donated some collection boxes could any of you out there take to work/local pub/shop etc every penny counts towards finding a cure. 06:30, 29 January 2015 By Sonia Sharma Wallsend charity funds research into rare form of childhood cancer The Chris Lucas Trust is to provide £300,000 for studies into rhabdomyosarcoma at The Institute of Cancer Research in London Lynn Lucas of the Chris Lucas Trust   Rare cancer research has been given a boost by a charity set up in memory of a Tyneside teenager. The Chris Lucas Trust has agreed to provide £300,000 over three years to support studies into rhabdomyosarcoma at The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR), in London. The group, founded by Chris’s parents after he died from the disease in July 2000, has so far raised more than £1m and continues to fundraise through flagship events such as the annual Great North Bike Ride. The latest donation will allow the research team to employ two scientists to exclusively work on rhabdomyosarcoma for the next three years, under the supervision of Professor Janet Shipley – a leading authority on research into soft tissue sarcomas. Rhabdomyosarcoma is a tumour that resembles muscle tissue, and at present there are no effective targeted treatments for the aggressive forms of the disease. Before being diagnosed in July 1997, Chris was a strong 15-year-old who played rugby, cricket and basketball. He started to suffer from pain in his left side and began to lose weight. After visits to the hospital, he was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma and received extensive medical treatment. During that time, he sat for his GCSEs and started a career in graphic design. But the youngster lost his brave battle against the disease when he was 18. His parents, both called Lynn, of Hadrian Park, Wallsend, have since poured their efforts into fundraising. Chris Lucas, centre, with his parents    Chris’s mum Lynn, 56, said: “We still think about Chris a lot. It feels like it all happened yesterday. He would have been 33-years-old now. “We don’t want other youngsters to suffer in the way that Chris did and that’s why we set up this charity. We have to find a cure for this disease. “We have found out that not a lot of funding is given to childhood cancer so any money we raise will help towards vital research. “We organise the Great North Bike Ride every year as well as the Jingle Bell Walk in the winter. Last year the bike ride itself raised around £100,000. It is hard work but very rewarding. “We chose the ICR since we believe in their commitment to develop new drugs to help children and teenagers suffering from cancer to live longer, and ultimately find a cure for rhabdomyosarcoma.” Thomas Bland, deputy director of development at the ICR, said: “Donations from the Chris Lucas Trust have already contributed to important discoveries about rhabdomyosarcoma, which is a major cause of cancer death in children. “We are very grateful for the support of Chris’ family for the next stage in our research. Without the support of donors like them, we wouldn’t be able to carry out our work to develop new treatments for childhood cancers – which are often underfunded when compared with some of the more common adult cancers.     22 January 2015 Chris Lucas Trust donates £300,000 to rhabdomyosarcoma research Professor Janet Shipley and her sarcoma molecular pathology team The Chris Lucas Trust has made another generous pledge of £300,000 to support rhabdomyosarcoma research at The Institute of Cancer Research, London. The charity, which was set up after teenager Chris’s tragic death from the disease in July 2000, has so far raised over £1m for research into rhabdomyosarcoma and continues to fundraise through flagship events such as the Great North Bike Ride. Before being diagnosed in July 1997, Chris was a strong 15-year- old boy, who played rugby, cricket and basketball. After twice battling back from the disease, achieving great GCSE results and starting out in a career in graphic design, the cancer finally took Chris after three years. The Chris Lucas Trust hopes to enable the translation of new molecularly targeted drugs rapidly into the clinic so that other families don’t suffer the same fate. Donations from the trust have already contributed to studies that found combining two separate molecularly targeted therapies could block processes driving growth in rhabdomyosarcoma, a major cause of cancer death in children. This latest award from the Chris Lucas Trust will enable us to employ two scientists to exclusively work on rhabdomyosarcoma for the next three years, under the supervision of Professor Janet Shipley – one of the world’s leading authorities on research into soft tissue sarcomas. Rhabdomyosarcoma is a tumour that resembles muscle tissue, and at present there are no effective targeted treatments for the aggressive forms of the disease. Mrs Lynn Lucas, Chris’s mum, told us: “We are delighted to continue supporting this much-needed research programme. Our fundraising is hard work but extremely rewarding and we chose the ICR since we believe in their commitment to develop new drugs to help children and teenagers suffering from cancer to live longer, and ultimately find a cure for rhabdomyosarcoma.”     2 Nov 2013 10:40 By Sonia Sharma, Newcastle Evening Chronicle Wallsend mum hails breakthrough in cancer research that Chris Lucas Trust helped fund Lynn Lucas' son Chris died of rare form of cancer at the age of 18 and since then the Chris Lucas Trust has raised funds for cancer research Devoted and defiant mum Lynn Lucas has raised a fortune for cancer research since the tragically early death of her son Chris aged 15 in 2000   A tireless fundraiser whose son lost his life to a rare form of cancer has hailed a breakthrough in medical research that their charity helped fund. Teenager Chris Lucas, of Hadrian Park, Wallsend, died of rhabdomyosarcoma in July 2000. The youngster, who went to Churchill Community College and Tynemouth College, was diagnosed with the disease at the age of 15. He received extensive medical treatment but died three years later. Since then, his parents have been raising funds through the Chris Lucas Trust and have been providing around £100,000 a year towards research at the Royal Marsden Hospital, in Surrey. Now that medical team has announced a new development which could help treat the cancer in children. Scientists at The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) in London say a dual-pronged strategy using two experimental cancer drugs together could successfully slow down tumour growth and block off the escape routes it uses to become resistant to treatment. The drugs, called AZD8055 and AZD6244, block two different signalling pathways involved in cancer growth – acting like road-blocks on two separate routes that cancers could otherwise use to evade treatment. The study was funded by the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre for Cancer at The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust and the ICR, with additional funding from Cancer Research UK, The Royal Marsden Hospital Charitable Fund and the Chris Lucas Trust. Chris’s mum Lynn, 55, said: “Our aim has always been to find a cure for this terrible disease. We don’t know if that will happen but we are doing our best to fundraise as much as possible to help towards research. “This new study is a fantastic step forward in the fight against rhabdomyosarcoma and a really positive development. “If we can keep the cancer at bay and help children with this disease live longer, that is a great thing. There is still a long way to go but this is a good start.” The two drugs are being tested for use against cancers in adults. The next step will be to progress with clinical trials for children using the dual approach. Dr Janet Shipley, team leader in sarcoma molecular pathology at the ICR, said: “Rhabdomyosarcoma is the main type of sarcoma to affect children and little improvement has been made recently using conventional treatments like chemotherapy and radiotherapy - survival rates for some patients with this disease remain bleak. “More effective targeted treatment is desperately needed. Our study shows that treating with one or other of these two drugs is not a good strategy but that combining them is a very promising option.” Nell Barrie, Cancer Research UK’s senior science communication manager, added: “Understanding the inner workings of cancer cells is crucial to finding the best ways to tackle the disease. “This lab research emphasises the importance of targeting each cancer’s weak points and combining drugs to develop more effective treatments – which are urgently needed to improve survival for children’s cancers like rhabdomyosarcoma.”             November 2nd 2013 Combination therapy could treat common children's cancer A dual-pronged strategy using two experimental cancer drugs together could successfully treat a childhood cancer by inhibiting tumour growth and blocking off the escape routes it uses to become resistant to treatment, finds a new study. Scientists at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, found that combining two separate molecularly targeted therapies could stop processes driving growth in a cancer called rhabdomyosarcoma, a major cause of cancer death in children. The drugs, called AZD8055 and AZD6244, block two different signalling pathways involved in cancer growth - acting like road-blocks on two separate routes that cancers could otherwise use to evade treatment. The study, published in Clinical Cancer Research, was funded by the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre for Cancer at The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust and The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR), with additional funding from Cancer Research UK, The Royal Marsden Hospital Charitable Fund and the Chris Lucas Trust. Rhabdomyosarcoma tumours can form anywhere in the body and resemble primitive muscle tissue. Despite advances in treatment options, there has been little improvement in outcome for patients with rhabdomyosarcoma in decades and they remain difficult to treat. Previous research has shown that many rhabdomyosarcomas display activity of the PI3 Kinase signalling pathway, which plays a key role in cancer growth. However, blocking this pathway in other cancer types can lead to alternative signalling pathways becoming active to compensate, allowing resistance to treatment to develop. In this study, scientists at the ICR targeted the PI3 Kinase pathway and a second pathway called MAP Kinase, to assess any compensatory signalling and determine if blocking both pathways could effectively inhibit rhabdomyosarcoma cell growth. The researchers found that the PI3 Kinase pathway was active in 83% of rhabdomyosarcoma samples from patients, and that 43% of these also showed activation of the MAP Kinase pathway. In experiments on rhabdomyosarcoma cells to block either pathway alone, they saw compensatory signalling through the alternative pathway, suggesting that inhibiting both pathways is an essential approach to treatment, irrespective of whether MAP kinase signalling was initially activated. The researchers tested rhabdomyosarcomas with drugs known to be effective against the PI3 Kinase and MAP Kinase pathways. When they tried the drugs AZD8055 and AZD6244 separately they saw reduced cell growth and a decrease in levels of markers showing the activity of the signalling pathways. However, compensatory activity was clearly evident. But when they combined the two drugs they found a synergistic effect, with cell growth reduced to a greater extent than with either treatment alone. They saw similar synergistic results when AZD8055 and AZD6244 were used together in mice with rhabdomyosarcoma tumours, with tumour marker levels reduced to less than 30% of those in controls. Co-author Dr Janet Shipley, Team Leader in Sarcoma Molecular Pathology at The Institute of Cancer Research, said: "Rhabdomyosarcoma is the main type of sarcoma to affect children and little improvement has been made recently using conventional treatments like chemotherapy and radiotherapy - survival rates for some patients with this disease remain bleak. More effective targeted treatment is desperately needed. Our study shows that treating with one or other of these two drugs is not a good strategy but that combining them is a very promising option." Co-author Dr Jane Renshaw, Senior Scientific Officer at The Institute of Cancer Research, said: "We found that while most rhabdomyosarcoma tumours seem to have active PI3K signalling, inhibiting this pathway alone isn't enough to be an effective treatment. Cross-talk between the PI3 Kinase and MAP Kinase pathways means that cancer is able to find an alternative route, like traffic finding a way around a road-block. Targeting both pathways using two drugs together stops that compensatory action. "These two drugs are being tested for use against cancers in adults so the next step will be to progress with clinical trials for children using the dual approach." Nell Barrie, Cancer Research UK's Senior Science Communication Manager, said: "Understanding the inner workings of cancer cells is crucial to finding the best ways to tackle the disease. This lab research emphasises the importance of targeting each cancer's weak points and combining drugs to develop more effective treatments - which are urgently needed to improve survival for children's cancers like rhabdomyosarcoma. Further research and clinical trials will shed light on whether this promising drug combination could help save more lives."   Nov 31st  Oct 2013 Halloween Cake Sale             FREYA                     FREYA AND SISTER ESME     From left, Esme, Keren, Freya and Lesley               A very big thank you to  Keren, Freya Murphy's mum and Freya, Keren's mum and Freya's sister Esme for holding an   Halloween Cake Sale in Bolton.   Keren said  "the good news is that my colleagues and I managed to do our first fundraiser last Thursday - a halloween cake sale in the office. We have raised £293 for the Trust! We weren't expecting to raise so much but the staff were really supportive.  I manned the kitchen with my mum, my mum and Freya and her sister Esme also helped out".  Thank you to all that participated in this lovely event. Love Lynn and Lynn xx         July 2013 Picture Lesley and Gary In Loving Memory of our Dear Cousin Gary Stephenson Taken from us far too soon. Never Forgotten Thank you so much to everyone that donated  in place of flowers £,1582.50.     Loving Laura Chris Lucas Trust is delighted to receive £600 from Laura for selling "Loving Laura" bracelets to help our research into rhabdomyosarcoma to find better treatments/cure.         June 2013   Just received some pictures from our sponsor about the "Chris Lucas Trust Claiming Stakes" the winner was North Star Boy the race was held at Royal Windsor racecourse. Helping us to create more awareness for our vital childhood cancer research.             May 2013    Wallsend Harveys Furniture supports local childhood cancer charity  GRAND LAUNCH WEEKEND RAISES FUNDS FOR CHRIS LUCAS TRUST    A Grand Launch Weekend at Harveys Furniture store, Wallsend, on May 18 and 19 raised funds for the Chris Lucas Trust, which helps fund research into childhood cancer.    The store, at Silverlink Shopping Park, Coast Road Silverlink, has reopened after an extensive and stylish refurbishment and staff celebrated by inviting volunteers from the charity to set up a fund-raising stall for the weekend.    Store manager Steve Atkinson said: “We were delighted to support the Chris Lucas Trust and its excellent work. Volunteers from the trust ran a grand tombola, which included prizes donated by our neighbours on the Silverlink Shopping Park, creating a buoyant atmosphere throughout the store.    “Customers were able to take advantage of the store’s half price sale and an extra 15% off everything, while Harveys donated funds to the charity for each sale of selected items. It went so well that we have invited Chris Lucas Trust back to the store on Bank Holiday Monday, May 27, to hopefully raise more funds.”    The Chris Lucas Trust was founded in 2001 by local mum Lynn Lucas after she lost her son Chris to rhabdomyosarcoma, a cancer which particularly affects children,     To find out more about Harveys visit www.harveysfurniture.co.uk and to learn more about the Chris Lucas Trust visit www.chrislucastrust.com.      May 2013 Thank you to Deloitte Reading for choosing us as their charity of the Year We were so excited to watch our first horse raise named after the charity!   "Chris Lucas Trust Stakes" Incredibly the horse is called " Northern Boy!"   Jingle Bell Walk News Item http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/north-east-news/evening-chronicle-news/2012/11/07/festive-walk-in-memory-of-brave-wallsend-teen-72703-32182974/   Test for single genetic fault can predict child cancer patient survival A study led by The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) has shown that a simple genetic test could help predict the aggressiveness of rhabdomyosarcomas in children and should be introduced into clinical practice. The test would lead to changes in treatment for many patients, allowing some children to escape potentially long-term side-effects whilst giving others the intense treatments they need to increase their chances of survival.   In a paper published online today in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Dr Janet Shipley and collaborators in the UK, Switzerland and France found that children who have a tumour called rhabdomyosarcoma with a particular genetic fault, known as the PAX3/FOXO1 fusion gene, have significantly poorer survival rates than other rhabdomyosarcoma patients.   Children diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma are treated with a combination of chemotherapy and surgery and sometimes radiotherapy. These treatments have helped improve survival rates, but can cause serious and long-term side-effects including the potential to develop another cancer later in life. Having better information about how aggressively the tumour is likely to behave can help doctors to tailor treatment for each patient that balances the need for effective treatment with the side-effects of such treatment.   Dr Shipley says: “Our previous studies have raised issues with the current system of predicting patients’ risk, which is based on the appearance of patients’ tumours. Our new study finds that a simple genetic test should be incorporated into standard clinical practice as it significantly improves our ability to predict tumour aggressiveness. This fusion gene test could be used alongside other standard clinical measures to divide patients into one of four risk-groups, so that treatment can be tailored accordingly. Importantly, this will mean some patients who were previously categorised as high-risk could be able to avoid the side-effects associated with intense treatment, while others should receive the intense treatment they need to increase their chance of survival.”   Using the new system, 31 per cent of patients in the study who would previously have been classified as intermediate risk would be reassigned to a lower risk group, while a further 29 per cent of intermediate-risk patients would be moved to a higher risk group.   In this study, which was funded by the Chris Lucas Trust, Cancer Research UK and La Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer, Dr Shipley’s team analysed data for thousands of genes from 225 rhabdomyosarcoma samples. This identified a panel of 15 gene alterations that could be used to predict how patients responded to treatment. However, these gene changes were mostly linked to the presence of the PAX3/FOXO1 fusion gene, which is much simpler and cheaper to test for than the other alterations. The test would involve scanning for the presence of the fusion gene in a sample of the patient’s tumour. Combining the fusion gene test with two existing standard measures of risk for rhabdomyosarcomas – the patient’s age at diagnosis and the tumour’s stage of development – gave a simple but highly effective prognostic test. Lynn Lucas, whose son passed away in July 2000 after a three year battle with rhabdomyosarcoma, says the Chris Lucas Trust helped fund the team’s important research in the hope that other children and parents would be spared their ordeal. Treatments for the cancer left Chris with serious side-effects including weight loss, difficulty walking and a painful mouth. “Rhabdomyosarcoma is a cruel disease since children can go into remission thinking they have won the battle then find out months later it has returned even more aggressive,” she says. “The current treatments have some dreadful side-effects, which children have no choice at present but to tolerate. This test could help some children avoid this suffering, making sure only those who really need it receive intense treatment.” Kate Law, director of clinical research at Cancer Research UK, said: “Over the last 30 years we’ve made great progress in helping more children survive cancer, since the 1970s the survival rate for rhabdomyosarcoma has more than doubled. But, some of the treatments that are behind this success have side effects and it’s important we find ways to minimise the number of children who are exposed to them.” The study was a collaboration between the ICR, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, the Northern Institute for Cancer Research and University College London Institute of Child Health in the UK; the Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics and the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois in Switzerland, and the Institut Curie, Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer and Institut Gustave Roussy in France. -ENDS- Media Contact: ICR Science Communications Manager Jane Bunce on 0207 153 5106 or after hours 077217 47900. Notes to editors: PAX3/FOXO1 Fusion Gene Status Is the Key Predictive Molecular Marker in Rhabdomyosarcoma and Significantly Improves Current Risk Stratification publishes today online in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. Rhabdomyosarcoma is cancer that resembles skeletal muscle and can arise in many different locations in the body. The fusion gene PAX3/FOX01 is the result of abnormal joining together of the PAX3 gene with the FOXO1 gene. This is thought to arise spontaneously in cells, triggering their development into cancer, and cannot be inherited.   The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) is one of the world’s most influential cancer research institutes. Scientists and clinicians at the ICR are working every day to make a real impact on cancer patients’ lives. Through its unique partnership with The Royal Marsden Hospital and ‘bench-to-bedside’ approach, the ICR is able to create and deliver results in a way that other institutions cannot. Together the two organisations are rated in the top four cancer centres globally. The ICR has an outstanding record of achievement dating back more than 100 years. It provided the first convincing evidence that DNA damage is the basic cause of cancer, laying the foundation for the now universally accepted idea that cancer is a genetic disease. Today it leads the world at isolating cancer-related genes and discovering new targeted drugs for personalised cancer treatment. As a college of the University of London, the ICR provides postgraduate higher education of international distinction. It has charitable status and relies on support from partner organisations, charities and the general public. The ICR’s mission is to make the discoveries that defeat cancer. For more information visit www.icr.ac.uk The Chris Lucas Trust The Chris Lucas Trust is a UK charity which was set up in March 2001 by Lynn and Lynn Lucas following the tragic death of their son Christopher from rhabdomyosarcoma. The Trust raises funds to continue the vital work of a senior post doctoral scientist who focuses exclusively on rhabdomyosarcoma. The research position, which the Trust has funded exclusively since 2005, is based at The Royal Marsden Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and The Institute of Cancer Research.  For more information visit www.chrislucastrust.com         27th November 2008 Sadly Alice passed away Words cannot express how we feel about this tragic loss our thoughts are with Alice's family. your left foot isn’t normal by Alice Bullock - Cambridge Search all Alice Bullock's films

November 3rd 2008

Cycle Perth to Sydney

Martin Lisle: Man on a Mission Written by Peter Ford (Cycle Sport News)    Sunday, 11 January 2009 Just click for full story by Cycle Sport News Australia   Martin Lisle is going to cycle solo unassisted from Perth to Sydney on behalf of the Chris Lucas Trust a staggering distance of 2,724 miles via Adelaide and Melbourne starting in Jan 09. It will be the Australian summer with average temperatures in the 30s and a small matter of crossing the 800 mile Nullarbor Desert. All money raised goes to The Chris Lucas Trust Martin's  aim is raise one pound for every mile on the bike. Martin needs your help to make his fundraising a huge success! Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. It’s also the most efficient way to sponsor Martin: Chris Lucas Trust gets your money faster and,  if you’re a UK taxpayer, Justgiving makes sure 25% in Gift Aid, plus a 3% supplement, are added to your donation. So please sponsor Martin now! http://www.justgiving.com/martinlisle

August 27th 2008

GREAT NORTH BIKE RIDE 2008

Sunday 24 August 2008. A STAGGERING  2000 cyclists took part in the Great North Bike Ride, The biggest cycle ride in the North-east and Scotland!  BBC's Alan Clarke went out to take photos at the start, along the route and at the finish. Here are the cyclists setting off from Seahouses. TYNE GNBR 2008 PICTURES  by Alan clarke PICTURES 2008 A super collection by Alan Clarke

May 15th 2008

Senior Scientist exclusively funded by Chris Lucas Trust for Rhabdomyosarcom (RMS)

By Lynn Lucas On behalf of the Chris Lucas Trust  we are delighted  to announce we have  extended the contract of our  senior post doctoral scientist a further 3 years  to work exclusively on Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) on behal of the Chris Lucas Trust, the charity has exclusively funded this position since 2005 based at the Royal Marsden Hospital, London,  Institute of Cancer Research, Innovative Therapies for Children with Cancer (ITCC) The institute was chosen as the  'rhabdomyosarcoma biology lab' for a new European consortium called Innovative Therapies for Children with Cancer (ITCC) - of which Professor Herbie Newell, Newcastle University,  is also a member. Professor Andy Pearson who was appointed February 1st 2005. to the Chair, at this institute, focussing on clinical trials of new drugs and will certainly be linked with our vital work on rhabdomyosarcoma, and he is very supportive of this, so the Newcastle link with this centre will be even stronger. The institute was chosen as the  'rhabdomyosarcoma biology lab' for a new European consortium called Innovative Therapies for Children with Cancer (ITCC) - of which Professor Herbie Newell, Newcastle University,  is also a member. Professor Andy Pearson  is Chair, at this institute, focussing on clinical trials of new drugs and will certainly be linked with our vital work on rhabdomyosarcoma, and he is very supportive of this, so the Newcastle link with this centre will be even stronger. We are leading in the area of testing existing new drugs for activity against rhabdomyosarcoma. Our research group is also very interested in the underlying molecular abnormalities in RMS that might be important as targets for developing new drugs. Dr Kathy Pritchard -Jones, and Dr Janet Shipley, who leads the molecular cytogenetics group, are planning several interacting projects on rhabdomyosarcoma, all of which aim to help identify new, effective drug targets and treatment for this dreadful disease.. The Chris Lucas Trust is funding the senior post-doctoral scientist for a further three years  to work on the molecular characterision of rhabdomyosarcoma, using 'microarray' profiling which tests thousands of genes simultaneously. By looking at how these results predict response to treatment, we aim to highlight the important genes for choosing new drugs to test on RMS cell lines and in the clinic and  aim to identify new targets for developing new drugs. Chris Lucas Trust says  "the costs of doing these types of experiments is expensive, as is the amount needed to keep a scientist working at the bench using modern molecular techniques. We desperately need vital donations to ensure the continuous work of our Senior Researcher". The funding is over £210,000 for three years (about $368,000) It is so expensive but unfortunately these are the costs of modern molecular medicine". 25th April 2008 Title:              Identification of therapeutic targets through genomic and expression profiling rhabdomyosarcomas Report by:  Dr. Edoardo Missiaglia, Dr. Janet Shipley and Professor Kathy Pritchard-Jones, The Institute of Cancer Research/Royal Marsden Hospital NHS Trust, Sutton, Surrey Date:              25th April 2008  Lay summary  Rhabdomyosarcomas are rare cancers but are one of the leading causes of death from cancer in children.  Our aim is to understand the mechanisms that lead a normal cell to develop into a rhabdomyosarcoma in order to improve the treatment of children with these tumours.  Genes produce “messages” which are usually converted in molecules that perform specific tasks inside the cells that make up our body. Genes may produce too much, too little or even wrong “messages”, that can lead a cell to become cancerous.  We are using techniques that measure the levels of these “messages” from thousands of different genes and also molecules called microRNAs which modify the levels of these “messages” in cells.  We have made great progress in screening samples of rhabdomyosarcomas for these changes in collaboration with other experts in the field.  Our preliminary analysis has already identified genes for further investigation and we have prepared a scientific manuscript that will report our findings. Further genes will be identified and experiments will determine the role these play in the development of rhabdomyosarcomas. These may represent molecular targets specific to the tumours and lead to novel therapeutic treatments for children with rhabdomyosarcoma.  We are indebted to the Chris Lucas Trust for supporting this research.

CYCLETHON 12 HOURS AT ASDA

BIG HEARTED CYCLIST'S FUNDRAISED FOR  12 HOURS FOR THE CHRIS LUCAS TRUST, AT ASDA LONGBENTON, TYNE AND WEAR.

Latest.....In Memory of Chris

(Jingle Bell Walk Broadcast live Thursday Nov 29th courtesy of ITV Tyne Tees Television)

Great North Bike Ride

June 15th 2007

By Joanne Carruthers BBC Tyne,   The annual Great North Bike Ride from Seahouses to Tynemouth will take place on Sunday 26 August this year.   Cyclists taking part in the 2006 ride On August Bank Holiday Sunday more than 1,200 cyclists are expected to gather in Seahouses for the start of the 2007 Great North Bike Ride. The cyclists will follow a route of approximately 54 miles down the north-east coast, passing Craster, Warkworth and Blyth along the way and finishing up at Tynemouth Priory. The bike ride, which is now in its eighth year, is organised by the Chris Lucas Trust, a local charity which was set up by the family and friends of Christopher Lucas following his death in July 2000 from rhabdomyosarcoma, an aggressive form of cancer. "We fought for three years to save Chris's life but unfortunately we lost him just after his 18th birthday," says Chris's mother Lynn. "After he died we couldn't just sit back and do nothing. I think there's a cure out there and we want to try and find it." Chris during treatment at the RVI Snowball effect So they decided to try and raise enough money to support a medical researcher to work exclusively on rhabdomyosarcoma. However molecular medicine is expensive. It costs more than £200,000 to fund three years of research and after a few small fund-raising events it was clear something bigger was needed. "The bike ride was actually his friends' idea," continues Lynn. "The six lads who carried Chris at his funeral cycled from Seahouses to Tynemouth with two of their dads quite soon after Chris died in 2000. "Then people starting saying to us 'If I'd known about it I would have liked to have done it too'. The next year about 50 people took part. We realised we were onto something and it just took off from there." Chris loved Tynemouth Priory The BBC is not responsible for the content of external websites If you think the prospect sounds daunting you shouldn't worry. The emphasis is on enjoying the ride rather than making it a race and many people stop off along the way for a picnic or pub lunch. Spectators can expect riders to begin arriving at Tynemouth from noon onwards. The Priory provides a picturesque backdrop ride to the finish line but Lynn says there is a sentimental reason behind the choice of location. "Chris got his driver's licence and whenever he went missing, because of his illness and he was upset, we always found him at the priory or the Spanish Battery."

Clive does Sponsored Slim!

June 15th 2007

By Chris Lucas Trust, PLEASE SPONSOR CLIVE NOW JUST CLICK HERE! Clive says.....  My niece, Alice Bullock (now 16) was diagnosed last July with stage 4 Rhabdomyosarcoma (a very rare cancer affecting the soft tissue) only seen in young children and teenagers. After spending the past 8 months in and out of Addenbrookes hospital in Cambridge undergoing intense chemotherapy, she is now miraculously in remission. Her courage,determination and positive thinking has been a complete inspiration to all those who know and love her, and it has surprised no one that she is now undertaking the "Race for Life" with her mum Sonia to try and raise finds for cancer research. Oh by the way, her legs are currently in splints and her foot was the location of the original tumour ! Alice compiled a video diary (6 in total) during her treatment, and I would urge you to visit www.jimmyteenstv.co.uk (click Cambridge) to see for yourself what a special person she is. I am starting my sponsored slim on the 30th April 2007 and will finish on 27th May 2007, and would be grateful if you would sponsor me "per pound lost" or a lump sum. You know I could well do with losing some excess ballast ! Many thanks for your support, and perhaps together we can contribute to help eradicate this dreadful disease.. My aim is to lose 2 stone in four weeks..........wish me luck ! Clive.

Lynn and Lynn Visit the Royal Marsden Hospital

Dec 8th 2006

By Chris Lucas Trust, After 5 years of continuos fundraising Lynn and Lynn Lucas were delighted to be invited to meet their Senior Medical Researcher Edoardo Missiaglia, who has been in post since September 2005, with a guaranteed contract for 3 years, with money raised from the charity. We met with Edoardo Missiaglia, and  the team at the Royal Marsden, Surrey on Friday 8th December. Lynn said "It was wonderful to meet the team and our Senior Medical Researcher Edoardo Missiaglia, Professor Kathy Pritchard-Jones, Professor of Childhood Cancer Biology & Consultant Paediatric Oncologist, Children's Department, and Dr Janet Shipley of Institute of Cancer Research". "The team made us very welcome, gave a very informative presentation about the research program into Rhabdomyosarcoma, Protocols. The team talked about their close partnership with Europe, including World - Wide information. Lynn and Lynn were shown around their laboratories, and their various types of technology". On behalf of the Chris Lucas Trust Lynn and Lynn would like to sincerely thank everyone from the bottom of our hearts who have supported us since the death of Christopher, to have made this happen. And hope your much needed support carries on to keep Edoardo Missiaglia, in post to ultimately find a cure from this horrific form of cancer.

Dame Ellen MacArthur Help Chris Lucas Trust

Sept 15 2006

By Lynn Lucas, Fantastic news hot off the press! Dame Ellen MacArthur and her charitable trust has donated a piece of sail from Ellen’s round the world voyage signed by Ellen and with a letter of authenticity, these are very limited (this will be only the 3rd piece released) the first two went for in excess of £500. The Ellen MacArthur Trust - Inspiring young people in recovery from Cancer and Leukaemia We are beginning to accept bids in excess of £500, please contact us with your bid.Good Luck!

Wheels are set in motion for charity

Aug 28 2006

By Peter Taylor, The Evening Chroniclel A jam-packed list of activities attracted bumper crowds across the region yesterday. A record 1,200 cyclists turned out to support the Great North Bike Ride from Seahouses to Tynemouth to raise money for the Chris Lucas Trust. Chris Lucas died in July 2000, aged 18, after a three-year battle against rhabdomyosarcoma, (CORR) an aggressive muscle cancer. His parents, both called Lynn, of Lancaster Drive, Wallsend, set up the trust to raise funds to aid other cancer sufferers and their families and has already helped raise £200,000 to appoint a medical researcher with the NHS. This year's funds will be used to continue studies. Mrs Lucas said: "It has been a fantastic day and I am so pleased with the number of people who have supported the cause. "I never expected when we started this six years ago that it would grow so quickly."

Memory of tragic Chris inspires hundreds

Aug 28 2006

By Hayley Beattie, The Journal A jam-packed list of activities attracted bumper crowds across the region yesterday. A record 1,200 cyclists turned out to support the Great North Bike Ride from Seahouses to Tynemouth to raise money for the Chris Lucas Trust. Chris Lucas died in July 2000, aged 18, after a three-year battle against rhabdomyosarcoma, (CORR) an aggressive muscle cancer. His parents, both called Lynn, of Lancaster Drive, Wallsend, set up the trust to raise funds to aid other cancer sufferers and their families and has already helped raise £200,000 to appoint a medical researcher with the NHS. This year's funds will be used to continue studies. Mrs Lucas said: "It has been a fantastic day and I am so pleased with the number of people who have supported the cause. "I never expected when we started this six years ago that it would grow so quickly."

Pedalling for Chris

Aug 26 2006 By The Journal

Hundreds of cyclists are expected to take part in a Northumberland coastline charity bike ride this weekend in memory of a teenager who died from a rare form of cancer. Chris Lucas died in July 2000, aged 18, after a three-year battle against rhabdomyosarcoma - an aggressive muscle cancer. His parents, both called Lynn, of Lancaster Drive, Wallsend, set up the Chris Lucas Trust to raise funds to help other cancer sufferers and their families. The idea of a charity bike ride came from six of Chris's closest friends, who raised £2,000 cycling the coast route the teenager loved. Over the next five years, the event grew and eventually turned into the Great North Bike Ride, and last year more than 1,000 people took part in the event, raising more than £40,000.

Hundreds take to the coast

Aug 24 2006 By The Journal Hundreds of cyclists will be heading to the picturesque Northumberland coastline this weekend for a charity bike ride in memory of a teenager who died from a rare form of cancer. Chris Lucas died in July 2000, aged 18, after a three-year battle against rhabdomyosarcoma - an aggressive muscle cancer. His parents, both called Lynn, threw themselves into fundraising as a way to deal with their grief and set up the Chris Lucas Trust to raise funds to help other cancer sufferers and their families. The idea of a charity bike ride came from six of Chris's closest friends, who raised £2,000 cycling the coast route the teenager loved. Over the next five years, the event blossomed and eventually turned into the Great North Bike Ride - and last year more than 1,000 people took part in the event, raising more than £40,000. The determined efforts of the Lucases have already resulted in more than £200,000 being raised, which has been used to appoint a scientific medical researcher based with the NHS and this year's funds will be used to continue studies. More than 800 have already signed up for the event from Seahouses to Tynemouth Priory on Sunday and Mr and Mrs Lucas, of Wallsend, North Tyneside, hope it could be the biggest yet. Mrs Lucas, 48, said: "I don't think there's any family which hasn't been touched by cancer." Entry is £10, including T-shirt and medal. Call Mrs Lucas on (0191) 263-2884.

Woman's Own magazine Exclusive interview with Woman's Own magazine on sale from 25th April 2006         Chance caller halts dad's suicide Feb 26 2006   By Catherine Welford, Sunday Sun     Devastated dad Lynn Lucas was literally saved by the bell when he tried to take his own life. For Lynn, 49, had set up a noose in the garage of the home he shares with his wife when he heard the doorbell ring at their North home. The caller - who was delivering a leaflet - was concerned that the family's boxer dog had escaped from their garden . . . and the interruption was enough to jolt Lynn into changing his mind. His wife - also called Lynn - found him sitting on the kitchen floor sobbing when she returned home from a shopping trip with their son, David, 21, and she was horrified to learn just how close she had come to losing her husband. The couple, of Wallsend, North Tyneside, are well-known locally for the charity they set up after their son, Christopher Lucas, died of cancer in 2000.   The Chris Lucas Trust has raised enough money to pay for three years' of scientific research into Rhabdomyosarcoma, the rare form of cancer which claimed their son's life.   The Lucases are familiar faces at the Trust's annual Great North Bike Ride, Jingle Bells Walks and Annual Golf Classic, and have poured their energies into raising £200,000 over the past five years.   But beneath the public bravery, the couple admit that they are still struggling to come to terms with Christopher's death.   Lynn, 48, said: "We are still grieving, nearly six years later and that led to my husband almost taking his own life a few weeks ago."   "We deal with grief in different ways, and although he doesn't want to talk about his suicide bid himself, we both feel it's important that people know about the devastation cancer causes . . . not just to the person who suffers from the disease, but to the family they leave behind.   "On some days, the only thing that keeps us going is the knowledge that the research the Chris Lucas Trust has funded might find a cure for this bloody awful disease.   "There's not a day goes by when we don't think about Christopher, and to be honest, I don't think I would be here myself if it wasn't for the fact that I had David to look after."   Christopher died in July 2000, at 18, after a three-year battle against the aggressive deep-muscle cancer.   Lynn said: "He came home from school complaining about a pain in his shoulde r. . . which we assumed was caused by the heavy bag he had to carry when he was doing his paper round."   "My husband took him to the doctor's a few days later, and I received a phone call at work to tell me that Christopher had been admitted to the RVI, in Newcastle, for tests, as the doctor thought that there was something wrong with his kidney.   "That was the start of three years of doctors, hospitals, consultants and tests.   "We thought Christopher had beaten the disease, and he started work and even booked a holiday with his friends."   Tragically, Christopher never got to go on holiday . . . he died just 10 days before he was due to fly off to Benidorm.   "As soon as Christopher died, I started to get letters from people who had also been affected by the disease, and I realised that nothing was being done to try to find a cure for this cancer," said Lynn.   "We started the Chris Lucas Trust more or less immediately and I put all my energy into fundraising."   But her husband found it more difficult to cope and sank into a depression made worse by poor health.   Lynn said: "Christopher's death put enormous pressure and strain on the family, and even when he was still alive, we chose not to tell anyone - even Christopher himself - just how grim the situation was.   "When I think back, I think Lynn and I really knew about a year before Christopher died that we were eventually going to lose him, but we decided to keep it to ourselves.   "We still don't know if that was the right decision, but we didn't want anyone to treat him differently. It put an enormous strain on us as a couple. A lot of our family and friends dwindled away then, as they didn't know how to deal with the situation.   "Lynn and I have different ways of trying to cope with our loss. I keep myself busy with the fundraising, and try to turn Christopher's death into a positive thing.   "But his death hit my husband very hard. They used to spend hours together, talking about Newcastle United, and he still misses that terribly.   "Lynn and I still have difficulties talking to each other about what's happened to our family, and we are so afraid of upsetting each other that we've got to the stage where we don't even try, which is very sad.   "When David and I found Lynn in the kitchen when we came home from the MetroCentre, all he would say was how sorry he was . . . and I was bloody furious that he could consider leaving me after all we'd been through together.   "Lynn is still having counselling, and I don't think we will ever get over the pain of losing Christopher. We've learned to live with it, but I don't think we will ever get over the anger and sadness we feel at losing our darling boy."   The annual Chris Lucas Trust 50-mile Great North Bike Ride will take place this year on Sunday, August 27.   To find out more about the event, or the charity itself, telephone 0191-263 2884 0kor visit the website at www.chrislucastrust.com     Charity walk's tribute December 2nd 2005   By Evening Chronicle   A charity Christmas walk has been held in memory of a teenager who died of cancer. Chris Lucas of Lancaster Drive, Hadrian Park, Wallsend, died in July 2000, aged 18, after contracting the cancer Rhabdomyosarcoma. Shortly after his death mum Lynn, 47, helped found the Chris Lucas Trust to raise money for other people suffering from the disease. Last night she and her husband, also called Lynn, 48, were joined by 500 supporters in singing Jingle Bells as they walked from Newcastle Civic Centre to the Newcastle Quayside to raise funds for the charity. She said: "If we can save just one child's life, then Chris' death will not have been for nothing."   To help go to www.chrislucastrust.com   Children's Cancer Month, Cyclethon November 13th 2005   By Chris Lucas Trust   Alan Tuddenham, cyclist fanatic,  one of our organisers, is  is calling all cyclist's to help him with his 24 hour Cyclethon! Children's cancer month is December, we need your help for our 1st 24 hour Cyclethon. If you could spare a hour or so on Friday 16th, 7PM through to Saturday 7PM, we need to hear from you! Please call Alan on 0191 2131253, or Lynn on 0191 2632884 to register your name. The venue is ASDA superstore, part of WALLMART group),  Longbenton, Newcastle upon Tyne. Alan recently did a 12 hour one man Cyclethon, at ASDA, and raised just over £1300.   Rates of deadly disease rising October 6th 2005   By Louise Redvers, The Evening Chronicle   Cancer cases in North East youngsters have risen by a quarter since the 1960s. Researchers at the University of Newcastle have found young men are 20% more likely to be diagnosed with the disease than young women. Young males were also found to respond less well to treatment than young females. But despite the increases in cancer rates, youngsters were more likely to survive, the study showed. Cases of testicular and skin cancer doubled over the 30-year period covered by the study, which could be due to changes in environment and lifestyle. Young women in particular were more likely to get malignant melanomas and lead researcher Dr Mark Pearce said the increased use of sunbeds could be a factor. Dr Pearce, of Newcastle University's School of Clinical Medical Sciences, said: "The rapid rise in cases of testicular cancer for instance suggests changes in environmental exposures or lifestyle may play a role. "But without hard scientific evidence it is impossible to say for sure. "You can, however, draw a link between the rise in the cases of skin cancer and the increase in the growing tendency to take holidays in hot, sunny countries over the last 30 or so years and also the increased use of sunbeds, particularly by women. "Both these practices expose the skin to dangerous ultra violet rays that can lead to the development of skin cancer." He added: "The increasing incidence of some cancers is worrying, but there is good news in that today's adolescents and young adults are almost twice as likely to survive their disease than in the 1960s." Co-researcher Dr Kevin Windebank is a consultant working on a teenage cancer unit at the Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle, which was set up with funds from the Teenage Cancer Trust. He said: "Thanks to specialist units like the one here in Newcastle, teenagers are getting a much better deal than before and survival rates are set to improve even further. "However, in the meantime it remains important to get the message about avoidable risk factors such as smoking and excessive sun exposure clearly across to youngsters." The statistics and reports are published today for the first time in the academic journal Paediatric Blood and Cancer. Researchers examined data on cancer in adolescents and young adults aged 15 to 24 and found incidence of the disease rose significantly. Over the 30-year study period, there were on average 190 cases for every million men a year, and 157 for every million women a year. The most common cancers in young adults were Hodgkin's Disease, carcinomas, central nervous system tumours, germ cell tumours and leukaemia. Keep research going Lynn Lucas, who lost her son Christopher to a rare cancer five years ago, welcomed today's report. The 47-year-old, of Hadrian Park, Wallsend, said: "I don't think there's a family out there who hasn't been touched by cancer these days. We definitely need more research into it." Christopher, was 15 when he was diagnosed with the rare Rhabdomyosarcoma and died in June 2000, aged 18. His parents set up the Chris Lucas Charity in his memory and have raised more than £160,000 to pay for a dedicated university researcher.

LATEST NEWS August 15th  2005

Marathon ride for lad of six Aug 15 2005   By Louise Redvers, The Evening Chronicle   Pint-sized James Dunn is Tyneside's answer to Lance Armstrong. The six-year-old is taking on a 52-mile bike ride to raise money for a North East cancer charity.   James, of Preston Grange, North Shields, is cycling from Seahouses in Northumberland down to Tynemouth with his father Andrew, 35. The pair are collecting cash for the Chris Lucas Trust, set up in memory of the Wallsend teenager who died of a rare cancer five years ago. James' mother Alison, 35, said: "He's always loved cycling. He stopped using stabilisers and started riding unaided when he was three. "He and his dad go out a lot together most weekends. He's got all the gear and a helmet. "James is pretty fit for his age. He's been picked to take part in advanced training with the Newcastle City Council Football Development Programme. "He's been out training with his dad three or four times a week for this ride and they're hoping to do it in under six hours." James, who has a brother Jonathan, six months, and sister Josephine, 10, will be riding on a special attachment connected to his father's bike but will still have to pedal on his own. The Preston Grange Primary School pupil said: "I like cycling because it keeps you fit and helps you get to sleep. "I prefer going downhill than uphill and sometimes I go very fast." Mr Dunn, a transport manager for an HGV firm in Blaydon, regularly cycles to and from work. He has raised more than £6,000 on sponsored bike rides across the Sinai desert and on a forest trip in Thailand. Mrs Dunn, a solicitor, said: "James has already collected £100, which isn't bad for a six-year-old and we're hoping to get a lot more over the next two weeks." Mr Dunn said: "I was looking for a charity to raise money for with James and when I read the stories about Chris I was so moved we decided to collect sponsors for the trust." Chris, of Hadrian Park, was diagnosed with the rare rhabdomyosarcoma when he was 15. He died in July 2000. His parents, Lynn and Lynn, who also have a 19-year-son, David, set up the charity in Chris' name to raise money for a specialist rhabdomyosarcoma researcher. Last month they reached their £160,000 target and a scientist has been appointed at a London hospital to research the cancer. But they are continuing to raise funds to keep the researcher in the post and pay for his work. If you want to sponsor James and Andrew send donations to: 53 Malvin Road, Preston Grange, North Shields NE29 9HH. For information about the Chris Lucas Trust: www.chrislucastrust.com

July 6th  2005

Appointment of Senior Scientist exclusively funded by Chris Lucas Trust for Rhabdomyosarcom (RMS)

By Chris Lucas Trust

On behalf of the Chris Lucas Trust  we are delighted  to announce the appointment  of a  senior post doctoral scientist to work exclusively on Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS), to be based at the Royal Marsden Hospital, London,  Institute of Cancer Research, Innovative Therapies for Children with Cancer (ITCC) Kathy Pritchard-Jones, Professor of Childhood Cancer Biology & Honorary Consultant in Paediatric Oncology Children's Dept, Royal Marsden Hospital & Institute of Cancer Research said "we have now appointed an excellent senior post doctoral researcher. He is Italian and will be starting with us in September. He has very good experience of molecular profiling of cancers and I am sure he will really help us push forward our ongoing work on rhabdomyosarcoma". The institute was chosen as the  'rhabdomyosarcoma biology lab' for a new European consortium called Innovative Therapies for Children with Cancer (ITCC) - of which Professor Herbie Newell, Newcastle University,  is also a member. Professor Andy Pearson  is Chair, at this institute, focussing on clinical trials of new drugs and will certainly be linked with our vital work on rhabdomyosarcoma, and he is very supportive of this, so the Newcastle link with this centre will be even stronger. We are leading in the area of testing existing new drugs for activity against rhabdomyosarcoma. Our research group is also very interested in the underlying molecular abnormalities in RMS that might be important as targets for developing new drugs. Dr Kathy Pritchard -Jones, and Dr Janet Shipley, who leads the molecular cytogenetics group, are planning several interacting projects on rhabdomyosarcoma, all of which aim to help identify new, effective drug targets and treatment for this dreadful disease.. The Chris Lucas Trust is funding the senior post-doctoral scientist for three years minimum, to work on the molecular characterision of rhabdomyosarcoma, using 'microarray' profiling which tests thousands of genes simultaneously. By looking at how these results predict response to treatment, we aim to highlight the important genes for choosing new drugs to test on RMS cell lines and in the clinic and  aim to identify new targets for developing new drugs. Chris Lucas Trust says  "the costs of doing these types of experiments is expensive, as is the amount needed to keep a scientist working at the bench using modern molecular techniques. We desperately need vital donations to ensure the continuous work of our Senior Researcher". The funding is over £210,000 for three years (about $368,000) It is so expensive but unfortunately these are the costs of modern molecular medicine".

March 22nd 2005

Conor in USA raising money for Trust

By Chris Lucas Trust

“Seven year old Conor is busy raising money in memory of his dear friends daughter Samantha Lily, who tragically died from Rhabdomyosarcoma in 1985. Conor is selling lemonade and cookies raising money for the Chris Lucas Trust to fund our vital cancer researech. To date he has raised over $50 Conors target is $100 by  April 27th which is Samanthas birthday. Conors mother Susan said 'I'll pass your hug to Conor.  He's a loving and good boy, and I am very proud of him.  He wanted to celebrate Samantha Lily's birthday and we thought this the best way'. 'It's so sad that after so much time there are still children suffering from this.  It very wonderful and touching that you can honor your son by using this Trust to help other children.  I'm so glad that your family offers a great way to help other children'. On behalf of the Chris Lucas Trust we thank Conor and Susan so much for their support.

March 8th 2005

Bereaved Parents - Press Release

By Chris Lucas Trust

“Tony Blair states "Bringing up a family is a great joy”, yes, I agree to have 9 months paternity for the new mother.  My problem is trying to understand why the government does not consider the bereaved mother?  On the other side of the coin, when parents lose a child they are on rock bottom, suicidal, do expect a return to work as soon as possible in some cases weeks rather than months. If the latter is the case they suffer by going onto half pay to no pay thus are drastically struggling financially with day to day living costs, including bills, and of course funeral costs.  One may argue that the employer should help including the occupational health doctor, but to my experience and many others the health doctor has no powers, since in reality the parents go onto half pay then to no pay in a shorter timescale than the new paternity of nine months since there is no legislation to help those bereaved  Therefore, they are starved back to work, meaning they are not ready to return within the desired timescale envisaged by the employer. Remembering the new parents do not need to face work for nine months in the new policy soon to be introduced.  I know by my own experience and talking to many bereaved parents over the years including Compassionate Friends that employers have along way to go to understand how bereavement affects their staff. In particular the loss of a child.  I recommend under equal opportunities that bereaved parents require even more help as to parents to newborn what do you think? I know “governments cannot raise children but they should and can help parents when needed”  What about parents with new born who die quite soon after birth, do they still qualify for the nine months paternity, or do they also lose this support? What do you think?  Yours Sincerely   Lynn Cecil Lucas (Bereaved Parent) Chris Lucas Trust

LATEST NEWS December 18th  2004

Senior Scientist exclusively funded by Chris Lucas Trust for Rhabdomyosarcom (RMS)

By Chris Lucas Trust

On behalf of the Chris Lucas Trust  we are delighted  to announce the appointment very soon of a  senior post doctoral scientist to work exclusively on Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS), to be based at the Royal Marsden Hospital, London,  Institute of Cancer Research, Innovative Therapies for Children with Cancer (ITCC) The institute was chosen as the  'rhabdomyosarcoma biology lab' for a new European consortium called Innovative Therapies for Children with Cancer (ITCC) - of which Professor Herbie Newell, Newcastle University,  is also a member. Professor Andy Pearson who will be appointed February 1st 2005. to the Chair, at this institute, focussing on clinical trials of new drugs and will certainly be linked with our vital work on rhabdomyosarcoma, and he is very supportive of this, so the Newcastle link with this centre will be even stronger. We are leading in the area of testing existing new drugs for activity against rhabdomyosarcoma. Our research group is also very interested in the underlying molecular abnormalities in RMS that might be important as targets for developing new drugs. Dr Kathy Pritchard -Jones, and Dr Janet Shipley, who leads the molecular cytogenetics group, are planning several interacting projects on rhabdomyosarcoma, all of which aim to help identify new, effective drug targets and treatment for this dreadful disease.. The Chris Lucas Trust is funding a senior post-doctoral scientist for three years minimum, to work on the molecular characterision of rhabdomyosarcoma, using 'microarray' profiling which tests thousands of genes simultaneously. By looking at how these results predict response to treatment, we aim to highlight the important genes for choosing new drugs to test on RMS cell lines and in the clinic and  aim to identify new targets for developing new drugs. Unfortunately, the costs of doing these types of experiments is expensive, as is the amount needed to keep a scientist working at the bench using modern molecular techniques. the following costings: Post doc £36,520 per year Lab consumable costs for 1 scientist = £18,000 per yr Total = £54,520 per year plus Affymetrix arrays on 100 tumours (£400 per array) = £40,000 - cost in year one only. It is so expensive but unfortunately these are the costs of modern molecular medicine. Chris Lucas Trust says we desperately need vital donations to ensure the continuous work of our Senior Researcher.

September 6th  2004

Pair fight on in battle for cancer cure

By Louise Redvers, The Evening Chronicle

Four years ago Lynn and Lynn Lucas set out on what seemed like an impossible fundraising mission. The couple from Hadrian Park, Wallsend, wanted to raise £160,000 to pay for a medical researcher to find a cure for the rare cancer that killed their teenage son Christopher. Now after years of organising sponsored events like the Great North Bike Ride - and with a little help from a £10,000 cheque from Tyneside-born rocker Sting - they have reached their target. And talks are underway with scientists at Newcastle University and The Royal Marsden Hospital in London and the research position will be set up within weeks. "It's unbelievable the response we've had from people and we're thrilled to have got all this money together," Christopher's mum Lynn, 46, said. "We're talking to Newcastle University and The Royal Marsden in London to find out where the researcher can be based. "This is a horrible, evil cancer and we don't know why it chose Chris or why it chooses other people. "We're not expecting miracles but if we can help one child then it will be worth it, kids are our future, without them we don't have anything." Christopher was 15 when he was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer called Rhabdomyosarcoma. Although Christopher was in and out of hospital for the next three years, he never gave in to his illness, passing his GCSEs and getting a job as a graphic designer. But on July 15, 2000, nearly three years after his first diagnosis, the brave teenager was finally beaten. Lynn said: "It's like it just happened last week and whatever anybody says time does not heal but you have to learn to live with things. "Having our other lovely son David has really helped. He's 19 now and the double of Christopher. "Losing his brother hit him hard, but he's starting college soon doing the same graphic design course as Christopher. "He's also doing the Great North Run for us this year for the first time, but if he ever gets the smallest twitch, he panics it might be something because it's like he's living on a knife edge." Even though the Lucas family has reached the original target, Lynn said they will keep on fundraising. Their next big event is a Christmas-themed Jingle Bell walk in December which is also Children's Cancer Month. "We're not going to stop at £160,000," Lynn said defiantly, "We want to keep this post going for more than three years and maybe we'll be able to get a second researcher." To make a donation to the Chris Lucas Trust or to help with fundraising go to www.chrislucastrust.com or send cheques payable to "Chris Lucas Trust" 95 Lancaster Drive, Hadrian Park, Wallsend, North Tyneside, NE28 9TF.

DO YOU HAVE YOUR OWN ENTRY INTO THE BUPA GREAT NORTH RUN?

Then please help raise funds for the CHRIS LUCAS TRUST read more back to greatrun news index  Do you have your own entry into the BUPA Great North Run? Then please help raise funds for the CHRIS LUCAS TRUST The CHRIS LUCAS TRUST is a charity that was set up in Christopher’s memory to fund a researcher for 3 years. Christopher was diagnosed at age 15 years with a rare form of cancer called RHABDOMYOSARCOMA, a muscle tumour in which cancer (malignant) cells begin growing in muscle tissue anywhere in the body. The charity needs approximately £160.000 and to date has raised £116.000. If you have your own place in the event and would like to help us reach our target sooner and help keep the researcher in place as long as it takes, please help by raising sponsorship for us. For more information please contact Lynn Lucas on (0191) 263 2884 (Office Hours 9am to 5pm Monday - Friday) or email lynn@chrislucastrust.com for further details. We are not trying to be miracle workers but unless we try WHO KNOWS!!!!

June 1st 2004

Golf star backs cancer charity

by The Evening Chronicle

Top golfer Tiger Woods has given a Tyneside charity a boost. The American star sent a signed photo of himself and a letter to Lynn Lucas of Wallsend. Lynn set up a fund after her 18-year-old son Christopher died from a rare form of cancer. To date, the Chris Lucas Trust has raised more than £116,000 towards paying for a specialist researcher into the disease. Lynn said: "We asked Tiger for help for our first charity open-golf tournament on July 11 at Wallsend Golf Course. "In the letter Tiger said he sent this personal gift in appreciation of our charity work and he applauds our efforts and encourages us to continue. This gift will be auctioned by our charity."

April 13th  2004

My Goldie locks for cancer cash

by Hannah Davies, The Evening Chronicle

Generous Lynne Robson had her head shaved to raise money for an old school friend's cancer charity. Lynn Lucas, of Wallsend, set up the fund after her teenage son, Christopher, died of a rare form of cancer rhabdomyosarcoma. Click to see more photo's So far Lynn and her husband, also called Lynn, have raised more than £116,000 towards paying for a specialist researcher into their son's killer. This includes a £10,000 donation from mega star Sting who knew the couple before he hit the big time. On Saturday their fundraising got another boost when Inland Revenue worker and mother-of-two Lynne Robson said goodbye to her long blonde hair. "I've had long hair for as long as I can remember, I didn't think I'd ever, ever, ever have short hair," the 46-year-old said. "It really shocked everybody when I said I was getting it all cut off but I think we've raised in excess of £1,000, so it has been worth it." Lynne and Lynn went to the same school but only met up again through their children last year. "I hadn't seen Lynne for years," explained Lynn but then as part of The Prince's Trust she was doing some fundraising and that the money was to come to Christopher's charity. "It was such a brave thing to do as she had such lovely long hair. Actually I called her up the night before and said don't do it, but she told me her hair would grow again but I would never get my Christopher back. "This really got to me and I can't thank these two people enough for what they have done for us." Also doing his bit was Lynne's colleague Phil Dixon who got his legs waxed. Chris, a graphic designer, was just 18 when he died of the cancerous muscle tumour which affects one in a million.

February 18th  2004

Every cheque you make

by Julie Cush, The Evening Chronicle

Caring Sting has proved to be a real superstar by giving £10,000 to a Tyneside couple who lost their teenage son to cancer. The singer made the kind gesture to the parents of cancer victim Chris Lucas, who are raising money to find a cure for the devastating disease. The Lucases, both called Lynn, contacted the star asking him for signed memorabilia to auction for the appeal. But they were flabbergasted when the bumper cheque arrived at their home in Hadrian Park, Wallsend, with a card signed: "Best Wishes from Sting and Trudie." Mrs Lucas, 46, said: "Just two months before Chris died we took him to see Sting at the Albert Hall in London and he said it was the best day of his life. "Because he was such a fan, we thought we would we ask Sting for help but we never dreamed we would get this kind of response. "We honestly thought he would send us a signed T-shirt, but something must have touched him about Chris's story. "Sting must get requests like this all the time so we are particularly grateful he chose to help us. "It does seem fitting that a Wallsend man is helping to keep the memory of a Wallsend teenager alive. If we can help save the life of just one other child then Chris's death will not have been in vain." Graphic artist Chris was just 18 when he died of a cancerous muscle tumour called rhabdomyosarcoma - which affects only one in a million people. So far the Chris Lucas Trust has raised £116,000, but needs to raise at least a further £50,000 to fund a researcher at Newcastle University for three years. Sting's hit Brand New Day was Chris's favourite song and was played at his funeral. Chris's parents, who have another son, David, 19, used to know Sting, the son of a Wallsend milkman, 25 years ago before he hit the big time. Sting, real name Gordon Sumner, used to play in a band called Last Exit and Mr Lucas, who played drums, used to lend him his records. He was also friendly with the other band members and used to watch them perform at the Gosforth Hotel on the High Street. Mr Lucas, 47, an audit officer for South Tyneside Council, said: "Sting shared a flat in Heaton and I used to go round there all the time and lend him my jazz records. He was a really nice fellow and although I haven't seen him in more than 20 years, he obviously must remember me." Rhabdomyosarcoma is one of the most aggressive forms of cancer and causes malignant cells all over the body. The biggest fundraising event the family arrange is the annual Great North Bike Ride over the August bank holiday between Seahouses and Tynemouth. Sting's manager Kathryn Schenker said: "I can tell you both Sting and his wife found the Lucases' letter very moving." Evening Chronicle coment Kind Gift means the world It may be small change to pop superstar Sting, but £10,000 means the world to two Tyneside charity fundraisers. The husband and wife team of Lynn and Lynn Lucas were amazed when Wallsend-born Sting responded to their charity request with a bumper cheque. No-one is kidding themselves that this donation is breaking the bank of the pop millionaire, but Sting is well-aware that his backing of this cause is worth more than money alone. Having a high-profile figure like the ex-Police frontman supporting their appeal can only help encourage others to back the cause. It's also gratifying to know that despite living the high-life of a globe-trotting superstar, Sting has not forgotten his Geordie roots. The Lucas family hail from Wallsend and are raising money to help find a cure to the cancer which claimed the life of their son, Chris. This donation has done much to making the family's dream that much closer to reality.

February Thursday 19th  2004

Sting's £10,000 gift to couple

From the Northern Echo,  published Thursday 19th Feb 2004. MUSICIAN Sting and his wife touched the hearts of a devastated couple when the pair gave them £10,000 following the death of their teenage son to cancer. The couple made the gesture to the parents of Chris Lucas, who are raising money to find a cure for the disease. The pair, who live in Wallsend, Tyneside, where the star grew up, contacted him to ask for signed memorabilia to auction. They were astonished when the cheque arrived at their home with a card signed by the couple Lynn Lucas, 46, said: "Just two months before Chris died, we took him to see Sting at the Albert Hall, in London, and he said it was the best day of his life. "Because he was such a fan, we thought we would we ask Sting for help, but we never dreamed we would get this kind of response. "It does seem fitting that a Wallsend man is helping to keep the memory of a Wallsend teenager alive." Graphic artist Chris was 18 when he died of muscle cancer, which affects one in a million people. So far, £116,000 has been raised for the Chris Lucas Trust, but £50,000 more is needed to fund a researcher at Newcastle University for three years. Chris's parents, who have another son, David, 19, knew Sting 25 years ago before he became famous. Sting, real name Gordon Sumner, used to play in a band called Last Exit, and Mr Lucas, who played drums, used to lend him his records.

December 4th  2003

Reivers Cycle Route 2003 The Cycle ride 2003 Photo's!

Reivers Cycle Route 2003, 175 miles Tynemouth Priory to Whitehaven. It took 4 days from East to West coast for Albert, Ian, Eric, Brian, Dave, John, Chris, Alistair, and Andy, to complete their 175 mile cycle ride for charity. Lynn and Lynn, Moira, attended a presentation arranged by Albert Watson, Ian Richardson, Eric Brookes, Brian McManus, Dave Hill, John Taylor, Chris Statham, Alistair Russell, Andy Kidd. We are delighted to receive a cheque for £1,085.25 Thank you so much for your kind donation.

December  2003

Department of Health UK

We  recently received a more detailed response from the Department of Health UK, we asked our local member of Parliament Stephen Byers, to discuss our request to match what we the Chris Lucas Trust have managed to fundraise? To enable us to employ a researcher for three years sooner rather than later. The Department of Health stated "the Department does not allocate funds directly to charities for research" Please email us with your comments to support our cause.

November 18  2003

Trust Researcher

By Chris Lucas Trust  Community Fund UK (National Lottery) Application submitted for £168,000 to fund a researcher from April 2004. Announcement expected February 2004, Fingers crossed! Application to Lloyds TSB Foundation for admin grant £5,000. No news as yet. Great North Bike Ride 2003 was a huge success we anticipate to have raised £30,000, which puts us well on target for £100,000 by Christmas! Regardless of grant applications the Chris Lucas Trust intends to pour every penny raised to put this researcher in place hopefully by 2004. Thanks to everyone for supporting us!