A man who made a difference.
On this very sad day, I reflect on the many conversations I had with Eddie.
'Always remember, David, charity first!' he would say. Those words ring in my ears every day.
Eddie O'Gorman was born on 22 February 1935 to Ted and Violet in Kentish Town, London.
In 1954 Eddie met the love of his life Marion at The Forum Cinema in Kentish Town, they married later that year at the Camden registry office. Over the next few years, they had five children, Cliff, Sandra, Jean, Mark & Paul. Life was great living in their family home in Hyver Hill, Mill Hill. That was until the terrible news in December 1986 when the family found out that Paul had leukaemia - he was just 14 years old. Tragically this wasn't the only blow the family was delivered. Paul's sister Jean was also diagnosed with breast cancer in the Spring of 1987. After countless treatments, sadly there was nothing more that could be done for Paul. The family were naturally devastated. On 6th February 1987, Paul passed away - but before he did he made his mother and father promise to help other children and young people facing the same situation.
In honour of Paul's wish, Eddie and Marion's first action was to hold a fundraising ball at the Grosvenor Hotel in London. When the fundraiser took place on 31st October 1987, Jean was very ill but she was utterly determined to attend. She was there - in her evening dress and on a drip - but she was there. Only three days later, and still just in her early twenties, she too passed away.
One person who was so moved when she heard about their double-tragedy was Princess Diana. As a mother of two herself, she insisted on meeting Eddie and Marion and it was she who suggested they set up a charity in Paul and Jean's honour. On January 12th 1988 Children with Cancer UK was born - inaugurated by the Princess herself.
Princess Diana continued to be a source of comfort and advice to the family until her sad passing in 1997.
Eddie and Marion - a true partnership in every way - dedicated the next twenty years of their lives working tirelessly to raise vital funds for research into childhood cancer. However in 2008 Marion became gravely ill. Tests showed she had motor-neurone disease and just a few, short months later she sadly died on July 18th.
Even in the face of such devastating loss, Eddie was determined to keep going and his unwavering hard work over the proceeding decades had an undeniable impact on childhood cancer and the families we continue to support.
Since 1988 survival rates overall have risen from 64 percent to 84 percent, and in relation to leukaemia from 60 percent to 90 percent.
Additionally, a massive £300 million has been raised and over 300 research projects have been funded.
This is a legacy that would mean the world to Eddie, Marion and the O'Gorman family.
Eddie was awarded an OBE in the 2010 New Year’s Honours List, a much deserved tribute to his commitment and dedication to the charity. Not wanting Marion to miss out on this profound moment, Eddie went to visit her grave shortly afterwards to tell her the news and buried his OBE medal with her.
In October 2018, Eddie also received the Pride of Britain Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of a life devoted to fighting childhood cancer.
Away from the limelight, Eddie - who was revered in medical circles - was made an honorary fellow at UCL. There he met President Jimmy Carter - who became a life long friend.
Eddie was also a source of tremendous support for other charities, funding research at Blood Cancer UK, a series of respite homes across the country in collaboration with Young Lives vs Cancer - one of which in Glasgow named after Marion, one in Southampton after Jean, and two for Paul, one close to Great Ormond Street Hospital and another in Belfast. He also helped establish Beads Of Courage in the UK, alongside John Drummond, making it the charitable force it is to this day.
During Covid - knowing how difficult times were for other charities, Eddie also donated millions of pounds to a number of charities - including Teenage Cancer Trust - without their asking. Eddie saw all other paediatric charities as one big family and would help any who needed it without hesitation.
When Eddie asked me to take over as Chair of the board of Trustees in 2021, it was of course a huge honour. On that day, he looked me in the eye and uttered those all important words, 'Charity first'. Those are words I try to live by every day.
Eddie was a true giant of a man who I will never forget.
David Gibbs
Chair, Children with Cancer UK
David Gibbs - Chair, Children with Cancer UK
Thought
