Christian Lewis Trust Children's Cancer Charity

I'm writing as we are one of the families that you have helped in the 20 years that you have been running.  Firstly - Congratulations on reaching your 20th anniversary, what an amazing achievement.

You ask how you helped us- well we are a family that experienced the most amazing American holiday due to your charity. The few years before our holiday had been difficult due to Charlie's diagnosis of Bilateral Wilms Tumour and all that the chemotherapy treatment entails. So when our turn for a holiday came we were extremely grateful and we did indeed have the most fantastic time. Wearing the Gives Kids The World badge meant that we didn't queue for anything and in some instances got free gifts and extra rides. It was amazing and we have fantastic video footage to help the children remember as they were very young.

Ideally we would like to go back- when finances permit- as I would love to show the children where we went, what we saw etc. Would it be possible to book anything through you again?

You also asked about what has happened since - Charlie was taken off chemotherapy treatment in October 2001 and has been clear of cancer ever since. Unfortunately Charlie reacted very badly to one of the chemotherapy drugs and it has permanently damaged his liver. We are now under Kings College Hospital liver unit and Charlie is undergoing treatment for Portal Hypertension and Oesophageal Varices amongst other things. It has been a long journey starting when Charlie was 2, and it is still ongoing, Charlie will be 11 in July. We feel great uncertainty with Charlie's future and as parents worry about him all the time. 

Thank you for giving us the time of our lives, we are extremely grateful.

Helen, Martin, Charlie and William