Tributes to our Founder Eddie O'Gorman OBE

A statement from Cliff O’Gorman, Eddie’s son:

It has been an education and a privilege to have worked alongside and supported my father Eddie for 35 years in his mission to save the lives of children with cancer. Following the tragic loss of his son Paul and then his daughter Jean a few months later Eddie started a small memorial charity which over the years was to become Children with Cancer UK; the leading national children’s charity funding research into childhood cancer. Many people, from Princess Diana, who inaugurated the charity, to celebrities and thousands of people across the nation warmed  to his story and to Eddie’s vision of the end of childhood cancer and helped him over those years to raise £290 million before his retirement. Many of the cancer research projects he funded resulted in new treatments and have perhaps saved thousands of young lives bringing nearer his vision of an end to childhood cancer. Perhaps Eddie’s legacy is to remind us that with determination and an unshakeable, passionate belief in a cause people can turn terrible tragedy into a great cause for good.

If you have a particularly fond memory or photo of Eddie or a message that you would like us to share with his family, you can leave it on his tribute page. 

Tribute page

Statement from Amar Naher, Interim CEO, Children with Cancer UK

We are deeply saddened to share news with you that Children with Cancer UK’s Founder Eddie O’Gorman OBE, passed away earlier today.

Our heartfelt condolences and sympathies go to Eddie’s family during this very difficult time.

As I am sure many of you are already aware, Eddie co-founded Children with Cancer UK with his wife Marion over 35 years ago after tragically losing two of their children to cancer.

Eddie was a force for good, who made it his lifelong mission to help families affected by childhood cancer.

Since first founding Children with Cancer UK, Eddie’s dedication helped it to grow from a small memorial charity into the leading childhood cancer charity steadfast in its funding of childhood cancer research and an organisation that has helped thousands of families affected by cancer.

Eddie had a tremendous impact upon us all at Children with Cancer UK, and I am sure many of our supporters too.

Naturally, we’ve been giving a lot of thought to what could be a fitting tribute to our founder. In consultation with the O’Gorman family, we have decided to create a lasting monument to Eddie at the new retreat project we are building in Yorkshire. Soon, the Reflection Garden at the property will feature a hand-carved, stone sculpture, which we will commission from a local artist. It will be unique, permanent and bear Eddie’s name and celebrate the incredible achievement of the charity he launched. It will be a constant reminder of just what a difference one man and his family made to the lives of so many children with cancer.

If you want to make a one-off donation or set up a regular donation, please click the button below.

Statement from David Gibbs, Chair, Children with Cancer UK

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.