Local family raises £34k for Alder Hey and children’s cancer charities

Alder Hey Children’s Charity, The Owen McVeigh Foundation and Young Lives Versus Cancer have benefited from a fundraising ball in honour of a young cancer survivor.

Fabian Morley is five years-old and was diagnosed with Burkitt Lymphoma in 2024, a rare rapidly growing cancer.

Fabian received life-saving treatment at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital and his family vowed to show their gratitude to the hospital and charities who supported them through the most difficult of times.

Young Fabian rang the bell in August, acknowledging the end of his successful, but gruelling, treatment programme and hi Nanna Jane and Auntie, Chantelle Joseph, along with his mum Georgia Morley began the task of organising a fundraising dinner to say thank you to those who saved and supported him.

The Thunder Ball, a glitzy dinner for over 300 guests, took place at the Hilton Hotel Liverpool in March, supported by the likes of Ricky Tomlinson, Claire Sweeney and Ian ‘H’ Watkins from Steps. The event was hosted by Leanne Campbell and Pete Price.

Yesterday the family, including Fabian, presented cheques to the nominated charities which included £18,000 to Alder Hey Children’s Charity, £10,000 to the Owen McVeigh Foundation and £5,500 to Young Lives Versus Cancer.

Georgia Morley, Fabian’s mum said:

“We owe Fabian’s life to Alder Hey and the support we received from the Owen McVeigh Foundation and Young Lives v Cancer during the darkest period of our lives is incalculable. To be able to present these charities with the funds we have raised in Fabian’s name means so much to myself, my husband Jay and my family and is a small thank you for the huge part they played in saving Fabian’s life and helping us to navigate the journey.  There is no amount of money that would ever make up for the part they played in getting us to the place we are today and we will be forever grateful.”

Mark McVeigh, Owen McVeigh Foundation said:

“Donations like this enable our foundation to support families going through unbelievable trauma and allows us to bring sunshine into lives that are going through the most awful of times.  We are grateful to Georgia, Jay and the Joseph family for supporting us and delighted that we were able to make happy memories for Fabian during his treatment and recovery”.

Get the latest info on what you can do with your family this summer in Liverpool HERE.