|  |  |  | | | | Beefy to become a ‘Sir’ for loyal support | | | | |
| |  Ian Botham
Release Date: 16 June 2007
Our President Ian Botham has been awarded a knighthood in the Queen’s Birthday Honours, after raising over £10million for new research into blood cancers through his famous walks.
Cricket legend Ian, known as ‘Beefy’, started raising money for Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research in 1977 after meeting in a Taunton hospital a group of children who had leukaemia, whilst being treated for a broken foot he sustained playing for England.
He has completed eleven walks in total, raising millions and helping put the need for continued research into blood cancers into the public’s consciousness.
His efforts were acknowledged in 2003 when he was made the first President of Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research: an honour bestowed on him by our patron, HRH The Duke of Kent.
Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research’s Chief Executive Cathy Gilman said: "Ian’s unfailing support for Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research over more than twenty years has been astounding – he is truly deserving of this honour. Every time he claims he’s hanging up his walking shoes he still comes back for more. He’s been a true shining light for our charity’s work over the years.
“In the time that Ian has been walking the length and breadth of the country, raising millions of pounds for us, survival rates for children fighting leukaemia have risen past the 80 percent mark thanks to new breakthroughs in diagnosis and treatment. But we've still got a lot of work to do.
“Although Ian was inspired to raise funds after he saw children fighting leukaemia in hospital, the money he has raised is helping patients of all ages across the UK, as we seek a routine cure for all blood cancers."
Ian is planning a number of forthcoming fundraising events. To find out more, click here
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