by Paula Bennett | Dec 1, 2022 | News
This year, Felixstowe Port Users’ Association (FPUA) is raising life-critical funds to support Sadie Ray – an inspirational and resilient Felixstowe woman – wife to Steven and mum to daughters Olivia, aged six and Isabella, who is just three – in her battle against cancer.
With previous medical interventions failing to date, Sadie is now on her next life-saving venture – a clinical trial with Sarah Cannon Research Institute.
A world-leading clinical trials facility specialising in developing new therapies and precision medication for cancer patients, Sarah Cannon Research UK, is the first unit outside the NHS to offer new anti-cancer drugs in clinical trials.
As a member of our local logistics industry, can you help fund Sadie’s life-extending clinical trial?
Sadie’s Story
In July 2020, Sadie was initially diagnosed with cancer of unknown primary and given a few months to live. Shaken to the core by this prognosis and seeking a second opinion, new hope was restored, and Sadie embarked on twelve rounds of chemotherapy. A second biopsy confirmed that she had a germ cell tumour – curable cancer – and she was referred to a specialist in London.
Sadie started a new regime that included a further six rounds of chemotherapy, followed by two stem cell transplants. She had to stay in a London hospital for a month at a time – in isolation without seeing her children, husband, or any other family or friends. The hope was to have surgery to remove the tumour. However, a further scan showed a spread of cancer to the liver, and the surgery was cancelled.
Her oncologist recommended a tumour sample be sent to Caris in America for a DNA sequencing test, as understanding her cancer at a molecular level might give a more targeted therapy, which would have to be self-funded by Sadie and her family.
In the meantime, she was given further chemotherapy to help manage the spread of cancer. But with her body struggling to recover, this treatment was halted.
The results from Caris returned, recommending immunotherapy called pembrolizumab, again giving renewed hope. This treatment wasn’t available to Sadie on the NHS, but thankfully a charity stepped in and sponsored Sadie’s medication.
Feeling good, Sadie had hoped this would be the final key to unlocking success. Unfortunately, further scans showed liver progression, and she was taken off the medication. And whilst the charity had to cease funding Sadie, she continued extensive fundraising for them with the help of friends, family, local charities, and organisations.
With options running out, AstraZeneca came forward to sponsor a medication called ‘Olaparbib’, again giving hope to Sadie and her family. But sadly, this was deemed not to be helping after just two rounds.
Bringing us up to the present day and with the team at Charing Cross Hospital running out of options, only two possibilities remain. Look for a new clinical trial or accept the end-of-life status.
More determined than ever, Sadie has begun a phase 1 (never before tested on humans) clinical trial with The Sarah Canon Institute Research team in Harley Street, embarking on another medical journey.
How You Can Help
- Provide raffle prizes for the FPUA Christmas Charity Ball, The Orwell Hotel, 2nd December 2022. Contact info@fpua.co.uk to arrange the collection of your gift.
- Give generously throughout the evening. Raffle tickets are £10 each, cash only, please.
- Donate money for Sadie’s clinical trial; all donations are gratefully received. Account details for donations: Felixstowe Port Users Association Ltd | Sort code 20-98-07 | Account No 30958344. All monies raised will go to the Sarah Cannon Research Institute so they can continue their research and fund treatment.
by Paula Bennett | Jun 11, 2022 | News
With the sun shining and Felixstowe Ferry Golf Club doing Felixstowe Port Users’ Association and its guests proud, the FPUA charity golf day was a day to remember.
With 84 golfers across twenty-one teams playing on the day, a fantastic £8,850 was raised by the event, all of which will support local causes.
Jason Flower, chairman of the FPUA, says: “Firstly, a big thank you to everyone who participated in the day and donated so generously, notably our main sponsors 3PL, Gotelee Solicitors, GMA Warehousing & Transport, Vartan Consultancy, LPS and Pentalver.
“Congratulations, go, of course, to the day’s winners. Maritime Transport scooped the number one slot for the second year running in the team event, with Elite Universal and Magnus Group teams coming second and third, respectively.
“Congratulations also go to Maritime Transport’s George Copsey, whose skill on the course ensured his place as the day’s individual winner and Matt King and Stewart Newson, who both won nearest the pin.”
Beneficiaries of funds raised this year include:
Jason Flower adds: “We hoped to improve upon the £7,500 raised last year, and I’m delighted to say we achieved our goal. The last three golf days the FPUA has hosted have raised a hugely impressive £20,000 for good causes across our community.
This figure speaks volumes about the generosity and commitment of all those involved locally in the sector to look after our own. A massive thank you to everyone involved.”
by Paula Bennett | May 17, 2022 | News
With the FPUA’s annual charity golf day on Friday 27th May at the Felixstowe Ferry Golf Club, organisers and participants are looking forward to a great 18 holes and raising much-needed funds for local causes.
Jason Flower, chair of the FPUA, says: “Our golf day is always one of the best charity events in the regional calendar, and we’re very grateful to this year’s sponsors, which include 3PL as headline sponsor along with generous support from GMA Transport and Warehousing, Pentalver, Gotelee Solicitors, LPS and Vartan Consultancy.
With twenty teams signed up, the FPUA is keen to improve last year’s fundraising efforts. Jason continues: “Last September, we raised over £7,000 for good causes, and this year we are keen to improve on this total.
“Our thanks go to our sponsors and the Felixstowe Ferry Golf Club for its support, Porttalk for publicising our endeavours and all those companies and individuals that have generously paid to play.
If you are interested in getting involved, individual hole sponsorships are still available – to find out more please email Kevin Lawrenson at kevin.lawrenson@3pl.co.uk
by Paula Bennett | Oct 6, 2021 | News
The Felixstowe Port Users’ Association’s (FPUA) flagship event of the year – its annual charity golf day – brought together twenty teams from the logistics and local business community on 22nd September and raised over £7,000 for local good causes and charities.
Jason Flower, chairman of the FPUA, says: “After the last eighteen months and the cancellation of last year’s event due to the pandemic, there was a huge appetite from all our players to get back out on the golf course and to support those that provide help and assistance to others right here in Felixstowe.
“A huge thank you to our main sponsor, Gotelee Solicitors LLP, for its support and commitment to the day, GMA Warehousing and Transport and Vartan Compliance Consultancy for their event sponsorship, along with those companies that kindly sponsored a tee.”
Beneficiaries of funds raised at the FPUA golf day are:
• Felixstowe Academy (Prom)
• Ipswich Diabetic Clinic
• Langer Primary Academy
• FACTS
• Felixstowe Sea Cadets
• Activlives
• Level 2
• Felixstowe Football Club – Juniors
• Felixstowe Rugby Club – Juniors
With the event hosted at the Felixstowe Golf Club, Jason Flower continues: “Basking in September sunshine, great golf was played by everyone involved. Congratulations to the Maritime Transport team for winning the tournament and to Goldstar and Magnus Group
for picking up second and third. And a very big thank you to all our players for getting involved and keeping this fundraising event part of the Felixstowe annual calendar, to Mark Binge for pulling it all together and to Felixstowe Ferry Golf Club for hosting us.”
by Paula Bennett | Sep 6, 2021 | News
Felixstowe Port Users’ Association (FPUA) is delighted to announce Gotelee Solicitors LLP as its headline sponsor of the Felixstowe Port Users’ Association (FPUA) upcoming Charity Golf Day.
Held at the award-winning Felixstowe Ferry Golf Club on 22 September, the golf day competition is one of the most important dates in FPUA’s calendar. It is the organisations biggest fundraising event in any given year.
Gotelee Managing Partner Andrew West comments: “We are proud to be part of the FPUA golf day as their main sponsor. We have been fortunate as an organisation to have manoeuvred through the pandemic successfully while continuing to grow and expand our team and client base. As a business, we feel it is important to give back to our community and support local causes. We are proud to be part of this fundraising event and look forward to meeting everyone taking part on the day.”
Jason Flower, Chairman of Felixstowe Port Users’ Association, says: “We’re thrilled Gotelee Solicitors LLP have extended their relationship with the FPUA by sponsoring our golf day. It’s a hugely anticipated event in our social calendar and we’d encourage anyone with interest in supporting our fundraising efforts to get involved.”
Vital funds raised will be donated to local charities, including Langer Primary Academy, Felixstowe School and the Diabetic Clinic based at Ipswich Hospital.
To donate a raffle prize, sponsor a tee, or make a donation; please get in touch with mark.binge@gma-warehousing.co.uk
