The family of Amelia Saunders, who died earlier this month, have donated the money raised to fund her treatment for an incurable brain tumour to three charities
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Thousands of pounds of Amelia Saunders' treatment cash goes to charity
By Laura HerbertJanuary 24, 2013
Thousands of pounds from an appeal to fund treatment for Amelia Saunders, who lost her fight against an incurable brain tumour, has been donated to charity.
The four-year-old’s parents, Richard and Chantal, raised more than £245,000 in just 12 weeks last year to help pay for treatment at a clinic in Texas, America.
The Crosfields School pupil died holding the hands of her parents at Naomi House Children’s Hospice on Sunday, January 6.
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Mr Saunders, of Melksham Close in Lower Earley, said on Friday: “When we started fundraising for Amelia’s treatment we always made a promise that any funds outstanding would go to a number of our nominated charities. Today that day came, and sad as we are that we were unable to help Amelia with this money, it will go to help other children in a similar situation.
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“We have made two significant donations that are only possible due to the generosity of the thousands of people who helped us – thank you.”
The family donated £10,000 to the Alexander Devine Children’s Hospice Service, which provided a nurse every Thursday to help with Amelia, and £50,000 to the Katy Holmes Trust to help fund research into DIPG (Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma) and other paediatric brain tumours.
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The remaining money, more than £100,000, will be given to Yes to Life.
Mr Saunders said: “Chantal and I want to thank the many thousands of people who gave so kindly and generously to help us. Amelia’s legacy will now be to help many other children to fight similar diseases.”
There has also been talk of Mr Saunders writing a book.
He said: “A lot of people want me to do this and I know I can, but I want everyone to know that right now, my family comes first. Chantal and I haven’t really had a relationship for the last year while we have been fighting for Amelia. This can’t be, and I need to spend time with Chan and also with Charlotte rebuilding our lives.
“The book will happen, but it needs to wait until we are in a place where I feel comfortable to write it and it won’t impact on the time that is now so precious with the two girls in my life – but no longer three.
“When the book does happen, a portion of the proceeds will go to charity.”
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