A family fundraising for children’s cancer research in memory of their 16-year-old son fulfilled their promise to him that they would raise £100,000 before the second anniversary of his death.
Ben Pavitt was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin T-cell acute lymphoblastic lymphoma in July 2020. He went into remission in February 2021 but relapsed in June.
Ben passed away on 8 October 2021, 15 months after his diagnosis.
A kind-hearted and compassionate young man, Ben had already raised thousands of pounds for charity during his treatment, and told his family that he wanted his legacy to be one of improving the lives of other young people with cancer.
His parents, Mike and Suzie, along with his younger sister, Lauren, set up Ben Pavitt’s Legacy of Love Fund with Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group (CCLG).
Thanks to their incredible efforts and some amazing support from family, friends, colleagues and businesses, the fund has now raised more than £105,000 including Gift Aid, which will help change the future for children and young people with cancer.
When setting up the fund, Mike, who himself has taken on a number of impressive fundraising challenges, spoke of the importance of funding research into childhood cancer:
Childhood cancer should be our top research priority as a nation, not simply because no child deserves to be struck down as Ben was, but because we absolutely need the potential of our young people to be fulfilled.
If we don’t do something about this now, we’re going to lose too many people like Ben, who, as someone who was always able to use his wit and intelligence in such a positive way, could have grown to provide immeasurable benefits to society.
Lizzie Goates, Fundraising Manager Community & Corporates at CCLG, said:
Everyone here at CCLG would like to say a huge well done and thank you to the Pavitt family for their efforts in reaching £100,000 in memory of a remarkable young man. From speaking to Mike and Suzie, I know that Ben always put the needs of others before himself, reflected in his wish for his legacy to be one of supporting charities and other young people.
Thanks to Ben, his family and all their incredible supporters, we will be able to fund pioneering research to help change the future for children with cancer.