Our history

Bryan and Susan Gunn's two-year-old daughter Francesca died from leukaemia in October 1992.

She battled bravely for over fifteen months against the disease, which never really responded to the treatment she was given.

The Bryan Gunn Leukaemia Appeal was set up by The Dove Trust in April 1993.

In memory of Francesca, and with public sympathy and support from the whole of the sporting world and the people of Norfolk, the Appeal was launched to support the relief of childhood leukaemia. This has now expanded to become Bryan Gunn's Appeal, a nationally known charity, supported by many people from all around the world.

Bryan Gunn honorary fellowship - 1997
Bryan Gunn was awarded an honorary fellowship from the University of East Anglia in recognition for his fund-raising efforts for Leukaemia Research.

Norwich Civic Charity 2002/2003
The Appeal was the focus of charity fundraising in the year of the centenary of Norwich City FC, when Bryan Gunn was granted the honour of becoming Sheriff of Norwich for a one year term. He set a new record for the number of engagements completed in his year of office!

Many projects have been funded to date, including:

• establishing the Francesca Gunn Laboratory for research into the causes and cures of childhood leukaemia at the University of East Anglia;
• the funding of two PhD lectureships at the University and a senior research fellowship post;
• the provision of specialist equipment for a new leukaemia and lymphoma diagnostic laboratory, and research at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital
• funding for nurses paediatric oncology courses; funding for a Paediatric Outreach Oncology Nurse for a three year period at the Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital;
• funding for a Paediatric Oncology Nurse for a three year period at James Paget Hospital
• funding for Dr Beny Spira in Sao Paolo, Brazil who is currently investigating the effects of some Brazilian medicinal plants on leukaemia;
• funding research at the University of East Anglia;
• and setting up gaps:line to provide support for families and carers of children with leukaemia and cancer.

Francesca's name lives on through the many grants and projects funded by Bryan Gunn's Appeal.

We hope that the support and help provided by the appeal benefits others like us who have to experience the trauma of coping with a child who has a life threatening illness.

Further Info:

• All Party Parliamentary Group on Cancer - a message from Dr Ian Gibson (Chairman)
  
  
• The University of East Anglia - The Calixerene Project Diary
  
  
• Science
  
  
• Hospital care

gaps:line

gaps was named to stand for the Gunn Appeal Parent Support and is part of Bryan Gunn's Appeal. The idea for gaps:line arose as a result of parents of children who had cancer or leukaemia calling our appeal office and wanting to talk about their situation, and fill in some of the 'gaps' in their knowledge and feelings.

The need to respond to such situations, was discussed with oncology nurses who had been sponsored by Bryan Gunn's Appeal, working at our local hospitals, the Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital and the James Paget Hospital in Great Yarmouth. We decided that Bryan Gunn's Appeal would set up a helpline staffed by parents, who themselves had the experience of having a child or young person with cancer or leukaemia, and who understood the range of emotions anyone would be going through.

Originally this was a pilot project, backed by the hospital staff in Norfolk and only advertised in that area. Research, planning and preparation for setting up gaps:line took place from September 2003 to January 2004. Twelve volunteers were trained and gaps:line was launched in mid-January 2004, to cover Norfolk. Following consultations with paediatric oncology staff at Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge in Autumn 2005, we agreed that gaps:line would cover the East of England.

Subsequently, in January 2006, gaps:line was launched as a national helpline at the House of Commons by Dr Ian Gibson, a cancer research specialist, who was then MP for Norwich North, and Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Committee on Cancer. gaps:line staff visited every 'shared-care' children's hospital in the UK, and spoke with all the relevant staff about our service at one of their regular meetings.

If you know a child or young person who has cancer or leukaemia, and you would like to chat with someone about some of the issues this can raise, we are here to help you understand what is happening and offer our support to you. You can talk to someone who has experienced something similar by ringing gaps:line on 0845 121 4277 between 8pm and 10pm any day of the year.