Norman Hunter's family fundraising drives 'vital research'

Norman Hunter died during the Covid pandemic, after battling leukaemia for seven years

The family of a Leeds United legend has raised more than £110,000 to fund "groundbreaking" cancer research.

Norman Hunter died from Covid in April 2020, after a seven-year battle with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL).

The money raised in his memory has allowed a 62-year-old grandma, Cathy, also diagnosed with CLL, to take part in a clinical trial.

She feared she would never get to meet her future grandchildren - but six years on, she is grandma to two.

"When the doctors told me I had cancer, my first thought was, 'am I going to die?' and then, 'will I ever get to meet my future grandchildren?' I was terrified," Cathy said.

"But here I am, six years later, making special memories with my two grandchildren - all thanks to the incredible treatment I've had at Leeds Cancer Centre."

Grandma Cathy, 62, said the clinical trial had given her "many more years to live life to the fullest"

The 62 year old said she dreaded the thought of chemotherapy and "possible gruelling side effects".

But a University of Leeds-led FLAIR trial offered Cathy less invasive treatment options, which she has described as "really smooth sailing".

"Thanks to this, my life has remained as normal as it can be.

"I've been able to keep doing the things I love, like playing in my orchestra and spending time with the grandkids," she said.

"I feel incredibly lucky that this trial is giving me many more years to live my life to the fullest."

Personalised treatments

A lecturer at the University of Leeds explained how fundraising by Mr Hunter's family was helping his team identify more tailored treatments.

Dr Darren Newton, lecturer in Haematology and Immunology, said: "The money raised by the Hunter family has enabled us to support research into the more personalised treatments given to patients like Cathy.

"We have seen hugely promising results from these trials led by Dr Tahla Munir at St.James's Hospital."

Over 1,500 patients in over 100 centres across the UK took part in the FLAIR trial, with 90% of patients treated with combination targeted therapies testing as completely negative for CLL in their blood.

The Hunter family visited the Leeds Cancer Centre

The Hunter family recently visited the Leeds Cancer Centre to hear from researchers and clinicians working on the trials, as well as patients like Cathy.

Mr Hunter's wife, Sue, said: "It has been absolutely fantastic so see how much progression there has been with this vital research since we last met with Darren and the team.

"To hear first hand how our fundraising is having an ongoing impact makes all of our efforts worthwhile."

Since their first annual golf day in 2021, the family have raised an impressive £112,368, and they are hosting their fourth event in June.

"This is all only possible because of everyone who has come together to support the golf day," said Mrs Hunter.

"We never imagined the event would have raised so much money, and we know that Norman would be beaming with pride."