We are delighted to share with you’re the latest news and developments from our Charity of Choice; Tomorrows – Cystic Fibrosis
You may have heard the amazing news announced on March 16th that The UK CF Gene Therapy Consortium secured their funding for the gene therapy clinical trial. The Medical Research Council (MRC) and the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) have awarded £3.1 million to the UK CF Gene Therapy Consortium through the Efficiency and Mechanism Evaluation (EME) programme. It has also been announced that there will be a second lab-based study, funded by a £1.2 million MRC grant and led by the University of Oxford, to investigate a more advanced version of the gene therapy using a modified virus to carry the replacement gene into the lungs.
Tomorrows have been heavily involved in the fundraising in the lead up to the trial announcement, and released the following statement:
“Tomorrows are incredibly proud to be involved in the process of fundraising for the UK Gene Therapy Programme. We are delighted that the EME programme has agreed on a grant. We hope that our £150,000 donation was in some way helpful in gaining much needed funds to see the Gene Therapy work through to the next stage. We are hopeful that this is a pivotal point in the treatment of Cystic Fibrosis."
On Saturday March 24th the 2nd Annual Tomorrows/Old Parkonians Charity Football Day took place at Oakfield. At an incredibly well attended event which managed to raise an amazing £18,593 for Tomorrows. 51 Old Parks Legends ranging in age from 35 to 69 dusted off their boots and rolled back the years to take part. The weather certainly played a part and more than made up for the quality of football on display!
The money raised will go directly to the UK Cystic Fibrosis Gene Therapy Programme who embark on a 2 year programme this year to try and find a cure for CF to remove the life threatening element of the disease.
Tim Cross, the founder of the charity commented; “We are so incredibly grateful for all the support that Tomorrows received on Saturday and over the past year. To all those who played, their families, all those who contributed and everyone who helped out we can only say a massive thank you. Without your help and generosity Tomorrows would never have been able to raise the £150,000 we contributed to help get the Gene Therapy Programme funded initially.”
The Placement Group would like commend and congratulate Tomorrows for their enormous efforts in helping make this ground breaking trial a reality!