‘I have a deep personal interest in the Mark Cross Bone Cancer Fund. Mark was my cousin and I was one of many who witnessed his brave fight against this cruel disease. In September 2003 he died at the age of 42, leaving behind his beloved wife Jill and two young children, Andrew and Tom.

Mark was a true family man who had a witty sense of humour, with a great attitude and zest for life. He carried this with him right until the very end.

Mark’s wife, Jill, set up the Mark Cross Bone Cancer Fund in November 2003 to help raise money and the awareness of this illness. She has worked tirelessly ever since and with the help of sponsored events and generous donations, has to date raised in excess of £60,000.

Palmera Estates has pledged to donate a sum of money for every property sale. Even if you have stumbled across the website and are not looking to purchase a property in Spain, please take a few moments to read on. Any donation would be greatly appreciated…every penny counts!

Thanking you in advance for your kind support.’

Lee Fennings

Managing Director

Mark Cross Bone Cancer Fund
Administered by UCLH'S Charities: Registration No 229771

This fund was set up in November 2003 following the death of Mark Cross, aged 42, of Bone Cancer.  Mark died at the beginning of September 2003, nearly two years after he received this diagnosis.

Bone Cancer is a rare but highly aggressive cancer. The treatment is very harsh. Extensive research is needed for these rare cancers, so more can be learnt about them, to find better treatments and ultimately provide a more positive prognosis.

Together with trustees for the University College London Hospitals' [UCLH] Charities, Mrs Jill Cross set up the Mark Cross Bone Cancer Fund. Mark’s oncologist, Dr Jeremy Whelan, senior consultant medical Oncologist at the Meyerstein Institute of Oncology at University College Hospital [UCH], will use the Fund for research into this type of cancer. Dr Whelan is one of very few experts in this country on bone cancer. The money we raise will both help finance research into bone cancer, and also raise public awareness of this cruel disease.  By June 2005, thanks to many people's contributions and committed fund raising, the Mark Cross Bone Cancer Fund presented £36,000 to Dr Jeremy Whelan, who then spoke about bone cancer and the specific research project this will support.

Mark Cross was a remarkable person who showed so much courage, bravery and determination throughout his illness. He never lost his wicked sense of humour and was always positive despite several setbacks, and the dreadful side effects of his treatment. He was generous, confident, ambitious, loved life and lived it to the full.  Mark achieved more in his 42 years than many can in periods much longer. He enriched the lives of those who knew him and he left a legacy and an attitude to life that we will learn from and remember.

Some facts about Bone Cancer

Cancer that starts in the bone is known as primary bone cancer.
This is not the same disease as cancer that spreads to the bone from another part of the body.

 
There are many different types of bone cancer, all of which are rare.

The exact causes of primary bone cancer are unknown.

Main symptoms of Bone Cancer

Many of these symptoms can be associated to other conditions.

But a doctor should always be informed about persistent bone pain.

Treatments for Bone Cancer

Often, a combination of some or all these treatments is needed:

Never ignore persistent bone pain.
Don’t let your Doctor ignore it either!

NOTICE BOARD

RECENT AND FORTHCOMING EVENTS :

The Annual MCBCF St Valentine's Disco

at Charlton Athletic’s Ground was a great success as ever, and raised £1,000 – thanks everyone!

Presentation Dinner and Dance

On Saturday, 2nd June 2007, at Hilton Hotel, Dartford Bridge, Kent

Tickets £40

Dress code Black Tie

For details contact Jill Cross (see 2005 Presentation photo below)

Jill has WON Eurocamp’s Lone Parent of the Year 2006 Award!

She was nominated by eldest son Andrew, proud of his mother’s fundraising:

http://www.eurocampaward.co.uk/competition.php
Thanks to everyone out there who voted for Jill.

PREVIOUSLY … Photos of Our Events :

DRAGON BOAT RACES DAY: BEWL WATER, KENT, SEPT 2005
We managed to raise over £200 here on our tombola, books and cd/dvds stall:


Above: the local constabulary help Mrs Jill Cross with her enquiries.
Many thanks to Funraisers for once again organising an exciting day, devoted to raising money for various charities: http://www.funraisers.org.uk/
And thanks to everyone who visited and supported our stall: and we’ll be there this summer.

THE RESULT: PRESENTATION, JUNE 2005
On 11th June 2005 Jill Cross proudly handed over a cheque for £36,000 from the Mark Cross Bone Cancer Fund to Dr Jeremy Whelan, Senior Consultant Oncologist at University College Hospital, at the Grand Presentation Dinner at the Hilton, Dartford.  Dr Whelan spoke about bone cancer and the specific research project this money will support.  Many people's time and effort went into raising this amount of money; too many to thank individually.  It was marvellous to thank some of them on the night.  The money raised is a fitting tribute to Mark, his family, and the stamina, tenacity and good will of so many others.  Here are Jill, Dr Whelan and the cheque (in a rather dark banqueting hall):

The Mark Cross Bone Cancer Fund holds many fund-raising events in the southeast London/north west Kent area.  If you want to come along and take part please see below or contact us direct.  Past events, sponsors and the Roll of Honour are detailed below.  This is by no means a local charity: people are welcome to organise fund-raising events for the fight against bone cancer in their own area.
So far (February 2007) we have raised £60,000 altogether!
bonecancerfund@aol.com

ROLL OF HONOUR

The family of LILLIAN HARTARD, who passed away recently.

£665 was raised by donations to the MCBCF in lieu of flowers.

Many thanks to the Blackmores and Hartards, among others.

***

Sue & John Blackmore, Lillian & Linda Hartard, Ron & Yvonne Moore donated generously in memory of

BRIAN GRAHAM

of Kent; sadly Brian died in 2006 of bone cancer. Much loved and missed.

***

Many thanks to everyone who supported our stall at the Danson Park Festival in Bexley [July 2006] – see you this year!

Dancers and friends at the latest St Valentine’s Disco, Feb 2006 at Charlton Athletic Football Ground. Thanks to everyone who gave their support – we know you had a great time!

Everyone who participated in the Race Night November 2005 at Sutton-at-Hone: another thoroughly enjoyable evening, a good laugh and the children loved it. Nearly £500 was raised, so thanks to everyone who came and made it such a success.

Mick and Carolyn Corp from FRIENDS OF CRAYFORD RETIRED GREYHOUNDS. They organised a spectacular Music Quiz Night in the Village, Hall, Hawley on 8^th October. This was tremendous fun and raised over £230 for our Fund. We look forward to another Quiz Night with Mick in the future. Retired greyhounds make wonderful, docile, pets, a far better fate than being put down once they are no longer "useful". Click on the greyhound’s tail at www.crayford.com for more information.

All runners and walkers in the HYDRO ACTIVE WOMEN'S CHALLENGE HYDE PARK SEPT 2005
(FORMERLY THE FLORA LIGHT CHALLENGE)

Everyone who helped out or purchased tombola tickets and/or other items from our stall at Danson Park Festival, Bexley, in July. We raised nearly £1,000! Look out for us again this year.

FLORA LONDON MARATHON APRIL 2005
Well done runners Bob Eady and Sandra Murray!!!  Both completed the course in good time, raising loads of money for the MCBCF.  Thanks a bunch!  Here Jill congratulates an exhausted, beaming Bob at the Finish:

After all that running about, we think Bob's navigational instruments business deserves a mention: http://www.sirs.co.uk/

Lainey, of Will Young's Official Website Message Board
made and raffled a cuddly 'Joseph' teddy bear, signed by WILL YOUNG and JOSEPH ROSS no less.  Raffle proceeds were shared 50:50 between Mark’s Fund, and Positive Action South West which provides HIV and sexual health awareness training: Will Young is a Patron.  Many thanks to Lainey and her pals, who posted very kind messages and raised over £300 for us!  See:
  http://www.shopatwill.org.uk/about_us.htm

The tireless (!) efforts of our runners and walkers on the 5th September 2004 Flora Light Challenge were much appreciated!
Here are Margaret Gates and Verna Rhodes:

Well done folks, and thanks to all their sponsors.

Special thanks to Andy ‘The Viking’ Fordham, World Darts Champion, and caller George Noble, for joining in our Charity Darts Night at The Rose public house, Dartford in July 2004.  This fun-packed evening raised over £600!

Orchards Shopping Centre, Dartford’s generous donation after their 2004 pre-Fathers Day virtual car rallies.  See:
http://www.orchardsdartford.co.uk/pastevents/19-6-04/3_400.htm

A special tribute to Benedict House Preparatory School, Sidcup, where Mark’s sons Andrew and Thomas attend/ed.
In the Spring of 2004 the school generously held a Sponsored Penalty Shoot-out and Sports Day which raised over £3,000!
  http://www.benedicthouseprepschool.co.uk/

CONTACT US

Donations are most welcome.  Our Noticeboard has an update on how much has been raised and the latest presentation to UCLH.  Cheques should be made payable to: UCLH’s charity 0802

c/o The Mark Cross Bone Cancer Fund,

55 Langdale Crescent, Bexleyheath, Kent, DA7 5DZ, UK

Email: bonecancerfund@aol.com

Website: http://homepages.which.net/~pear.tree/

Using Gift Aid means that for every pound you give, we get an extra 28 pence from the Inland Revenue, helping your donation go further.  This means that £100 can be turned into £128, as long as donations are made through Gift Aid. Imagine what a difference that could make, and it doesn’t cost you a thing.   So if you want your donation to go further, Gift Aid it.  Email for a form.
Many thanks to everyone out there who has generously contributed.

FOR SALE: CHARITY WRISTBANDS
White silicon bands with MC [bone logo] BC embossed on them. £1.50 each

We also have small white bone badges for sale, and trolley tokens:
If your supermarket’s trolleys need a (returnable) pound coin to unlock you may find our key rings with detachable trolley token (same bone logo as on badges) very useful: £1 each. The tokens also work in certain gym and leisure centre lockers, again those where your pound is returned. Never be caught short again! Individually sealed and a very useful small gift. Purchase all via our main address, or email as above.

HELP?!?
The Mark Cross Bone Cancer Fund holds many fund-raising events in the southeast London/north west Kent area.  If you want to come along and take part please see our Noticeboard page or contact us direct.  We are very grateful to those runners, joggers, and walkers etc who raise money for the Fund by participating in marathons, fun runs, challenges etc, national or regional. This is by no means a local charity: people are welcome to organise fund-raising events for the fight against bone cancer wherever they live or work. So far (February 2007) we have raised over £60,000!

We also seek sponsorship and prize donations at our events.  Can you help?  I’d love to hear from any companies or individuals who would like to sponsor events, donate an auction or raffle prize.  Please help me to raise money for the Mark Cross Bone Cancer Fund.  Sponsors and contributors will be noted on this web site, as well as at events, upon request.

Thank You!

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