A FUNDRAISING campaign, launched by Lions Club members across Surrey and the South East, will power research into blood cancer treatments.

The Lions International Blood Research Appeal (LIBRA) is pleased to announce the launch of a new fundraising campaign called Tree of Life, with a target of £100,000.

LIBRA chairman and Farnham Lions Club member Andrew Lodge is calling for support. “Funds will cover the cost of equipment required for the development of a ground-breaking leukaemia vaccine and other blood cancer treatments at King’s College Hospital in London (King’s).

“Successful treatments will go on to benefit blood cancer patients across the UK and oversees. Together we can help to beat leukaemia.”

LIBRA is King’s official haematology charity and is the only charity in the world to solely support the world-renowned department.

Professor Ghulam Mufti OBE, head of the haematology department at King’s, recently provided LIBRA Trustees with a wish list of equipment required for the new clinical studies.

As the funding required to make the research possible is substantial, LIBRA is calling on Lions Clubs, King’s patients and their families, along with the public, to help reach this target by the end of 2017.

The research equipment purchased will be used in a range of in-depth clinical studies as professors work to develop the new leukaemia vaccine for adult patients.

Professor Ghulam Mufti added: “The equipment funded by LIBRA will have a critical impact on our research efforts at King’s.”

As part of new clinical studies, King’s haematology team is collaborating with Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) and University College London Hospitals (UCL).

New treatment strategies developed at King’s for adult patients are likely to help leukaemia and lymphoma patients, both adults and children, everywhere, including centres such as GOSH and UCL.

Therefore, research work at King’s, supported by LIBRA, will benefit adults and children with blood cancers.

Professor Farzin Farzaneh, head of molecular medicine at King’s, is leading the clinical studies. He concluded: “The value of support provided by LIBRA goes way beyond its monetary value, because of its ability to target specific needs in our research efforts.”

To fundraise for the Tree of Life campaign, visit the LIBRA website for ideas www.libralionscharity.org or email [email protected]