Karen Morris Memorial Trust
633. Sylvia Morris
Sylvia Morris’s daughter, Karen, passed away in 1998 from chronic myeloid leukaemia.
In her memory Sylvia set up the Karen Morris Memorial Trust to support children with leukaemia and their families. The Trust’s ‘Home From Homes’ give respite to families, offering a relaxed environment near Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, Addenbrooke Hospital, Cambridge, The Churchill Hospital, Oxford and Hammersmith Hospital, London. To date the charity has raised over £2million and assisted with over 110,000 nights of sleep for families in their time of need.
In a personal letter to Sylvia, Prime Minister Theresa May said:
“You should be very proud of the work you have done with the Karen Morris Memorial Trust. Through the trust you are supporting families when they need it most. The trust and everything you have achieved is a wonderful tribute to your daughter Karen’s life.”
Sylvia said:
“I am overwhelmed to receive this award for continuing my late daughter’s fundraising initiative: anticipating that she would win her battle against leukaemia, my academic Karen wanted to devote her life to help fight this insidious disease. This was not to be as she passed away in September 1998, one year after diagnosis. The Karen Morris Memorial Trust continues her legacy: we currently fund four Karen’s Homes from Home for leukaemia patients and their families in leading haematology departments with a fifth under discussion. This award is in loving memory of a sorely missed daughter.”