Statement on passing of Eddie O’Gorman OBE

Amar Naher, Interim CEO at Children with Cancer UK, says:

It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Children with Cancer UK’s Founder Eddie O’Gorman OBE.

Eddie passed away earlier today with his family by his side. Our deepest sympathies and condolences are with Eddie’s family and friends at this time.

Eddie and his wife Marion co-founded Children with Cancer UK more than 35 years ago following the tragedy of losing two of their children to cancer.

As a force for good, Eddie was relentless in his mission to help as many families affected by childhood cancer as possible.

It was his dedication to the cause that helped grow Children with Cancer UK from a small memorial charity into one of the biggest funders of childhood cancer research in the UK.

Eddie will be deeply missed by everyone at Children with Cancer UK and the many families affected by cancer that he helped during his lifetime.

David Gibbs, Chairman of Trustees, Children with Cancer UK, says:

Eddie O’Gorman OBE – 1935 – 2025

A man who made a difference.

On this very sad day, I reflect on the many conversations I had with Eddie.

‘Always remember, David, charity first!’ he would say. Those words ring in my ears every day.

Eddie O’Gorman was born on 22 February 1935 to Ted and Violet in Kentish Town, London.

In 1954 Eddie met the love of his life Marion at The Forum Cinema in Kentish Town, they married later that year at the Camden registry office. Over the next few years, they had five children, Cliff, Sandra, Jean, Mark & Paul. Life was great living in their family home in Hyver Hill, Mill Hill. That was until the terrible news in December 1986 when the family found out that Paul had leukaemia – he was just 14 years old. Tragically this wasn’t the only blow the family was delivered. Paul’s sister Jean was also diagnosed with breast cancer in the Spring of 1987. After countless treatments, sadly there was nothing more that could be done for Paul. The family were naturally devastated. On 6th February 1987, Paul passed away – but before he did he made his mother and father promise to help other children and young people facing the same situation.

In honour of Paul’s wish, Eddie and Marion’s first action was to hold a fundraising ball at the Grosvenor Hotel in London. When the fundraiser took place on 31st October 1987, Jean was very ill but she was utterly determined to attend. She was there – in her evening dress and on a drip – but she was there. Only three days later, and still just in her early twenties, she too passed away.

One person who was so moved when she heard about their double-tragedy was Princess Diana. As a mother of two herself, she insisted on meeting Eddie and Marion and it was she who suggested they set up a charity in Paul and Jean’s honour. On January 12th 1988 Children with Cancer UK was born – inaugurated by the Princess herself.

Princess Diana continued to be a source of comfort and advice to the family until her sad passing in 1997.

Eddie and Marion – a true partnership in every way – dedicated the next twenty years of their lives working tirelessly to raise vital funds for research into childhood cancer. However in 2008 Marion became gravely ill. Tests showed she had motor-neurone disease and just a few, short months later she sadly died on July 18th.

Even in the face of such devastating loss, Eddie was determined to keep going and his unwavering hard work over the proceeding decades had an undeniable impact on childhood cancer and the families we continue to support.

Since 1988 survival rates overall have risen from 64 percent to 84 percent, and in relation to leukaemia from 60 percent to 90 percent.
Additionally, a massive £300 million has been raised and over 300 research projects have been funded.

This is a legacy that would mean the world to Eddie, Marion and the O’Gorman family.

Eddie was awarded an OBE in the 2010 New Year’s Honours List, a much deserved tribute to his commitment and dedication to the charity. Not wanting Marion to miss out on this profound moment, Eddie went to visit her grave shortly afterwards to tell her the news and buried his OBE medal with her.

In October 2018, Eddie also received the Pride of Britain Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of a life devoted to fighting childhood cancer.

Away from the limelight, Eddie – who was revered in medical circles – was made an honorary fellow at UCL. There he met President Jimmy Carter – who became a life long friend.

Eddie was also a source of tremendous support for other charities, funding research at Blood Cancer UK, a series of respite homes across the country in collaboration with Young Lives vs Cancer – one of which in Glasgow named after Marion, one in Southampton after Jean, and two for Paul, one close to Great Ormond Street Hospital and another in Belfast. He also helped establish Beads Of Courage in the UK, alongside John Drummond, making it the charitable force it is to this day.
During Covid – knowing how difficult times were for other charities, Eddie also donated millions of pounds to a number of charities – including Teenage Cancer Trust – without their asking. Eddie saw all other paediatric charities as one big family and would help any who needed it without hesitation.

When Eddie asked me to take over as Chair of the board of Trustees in 2021, it was of course a huge honour. On that day, he looked me in the eye and uttered those all important words, ‘Charity first’. Those are words I try to live by every day.

Eddie was a true giant of a man who I will never forget.

Obituary:
Eddie O’Gorman OBE, of Bricketwood, St Albans, passed away on 19 March 2025.

Eddie was born on 22 February 1935 to Ted and Violet in Kentish Town. In 1954, Eddie met Marion at The Forum Cinema, Kentish Town and they married later that year at Camden registry office, Kings Cross. Eddie and Marion went on to have five children – Cliff, Sandra, Jean, Mark and Paul.

In 1988 Eddie and Marion co-founded Children with Cancer UK following the tragedy of losing two of their children to cancer.

Eddie was awarded an OBE in the 2010 New Year’s Honours List, a much deserved tribute to his commitment and dedication to the charity.

In October 2018, Eddie received the Pride of Britain Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of a life devoted to fighting childhood cancer.

Eddie was predeceased by his children Paul and Jean as well as his wife Marion. He is survived by Sandra, Mark and Cliff.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Children with Cancer UK.

About Eddie and Marion O’Gorman

Eddie and Marion O’Gorman were enjoying a family holiday in Florida when their children Paul and Jean started worrying about their health.

Paul, a sporty 14-year-old, complained of not feeling well and mum-of-one Jean had found a lump in her breast.

Back in England, Paul was diagnosed with leukaemia and Jean with breast cancer. The diagnoses came just 24 hours apart.

Paul sadly died in February 1987, just nine weeks after diagnosis. Before he passed away, he asked his parents to promise to help other children with leukaemia.

Through their grief, the parents were determined to fulfil Paul’s final wishes, and started raising funds for the Leukaemia Research Fund.

Within nine months, they had organised a charity remembrance ball. Jean’s health had deteriorated rapidly, but she was determined to be there. She tragically died three days later.

Shortly afterwards, Eddie and Marion met Princess Diana. By then, they had raised £100,000 and, moved by their story, she joined them to inaugurate a charity in their children’s memory.

Since then, Eddie devoted his life to fighting childhood cancer and until recently continued to be involved with the charity on a daily basis.

What began as a small charity based in a one-bedroom flat has evolved into Children with Cancer UK.

Facts about Children with Cancer UK
A major force in paediatric oncology, Children with Cancer UK has raised more than £300million and funded over 300 vital research projects into causes and treatment of childhood cancer. The charity has also funded research centres, respite homes across the country and we have invested £8 million into accommodation near hospitals to keep families together while their child undergoes treatment.