CHILDREN’S cancer charity CALM is encouraging all the families they have supported in the past 30 years to come together for a special reunion.

The Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Movement – a parent-led support network – was established 30 years ago, and founding trustee Paul Cowan says the charity is more relevant then ever.

The 69-year-old, whose son, Daniel is now 36 and has his own family after recovering from the disease, said: “My son was diagnosed with leukaemia when he was two years old and he had his treatment at the Princess Margaret Hospital.

“We set up CALM because otherwise parents cannot get a layman’s view of what it’s like to have a child who is so severely ill.

“CALM was set up to be run by the parents of children going through treatment, which is important.

“I am no longer part of that group because my son is no longer receiving treatment, and what I could say about the treatment that Daniel received is very different to the treatment children will receive today.

“To be honest I didn’t think it would go on this long because I thought perhaps people would become more enlightened and there would be more support.

“Support for the families of children going through these kinds of illnesses is so very important, which is why I am so passionate about CALM”.

On October 11, a special birthday party will be held at the De Vere Village Hotel in Shaw Ridge to celebrate 30 years since CALM was founded. From 6pm to 11pm there will be a gathering for families with a disco, an entertainer and a meal.

Chairman Richard Crowley is hoping to reach many of the families who were involved in the charity over the years.

He said: “It was 1984 that CALM was started and we’re having a party. It’s for the whole family. We just want to invite and contact as many people as we can to let them know about it.

“Over time people lose touch and move away and we just want to invite them along too so that anybody who was ever involved with CALM knows they can come along if they want to “I think with CALM much of the stuff that we do is a bit of an extended family.

“It’s a place where parents can talk to other parents who are in similar kinds of situations and the children can make friends with each other, with other children suffering with cancer or leukaemia.

“Every condition is different because every person is different but there are similarities and experiences they can share with each other, like going through chemotherapy and other treatments.

“As the children grow up and move on sometimes families lose touch with the group but this is a chance to come back together to celebrate.”

For more information about the event or to see pictures from the 25th anniversary celebrations, visit the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pages/CALM-Charity/202430409799260.

Alternatively, call 01793 813025, email Info@calmcharity.org or visit the website at www.calmcharity.org