Llewelyn-Bowen family to raise £30,000 cost-of-living fund for Gloucestershire blood cancer patients

Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen and his family are teaming up with Linc Charity to raise £30,000 to support blood cancer patients and their families across Gloucestershire, Herefordshire and South Worcestershire by hosting a ‘glitz and glamour’ Cotswold Snowball, which anyone with a ticket can attend.

The event is announced in recognition of Blood Cancer Awareness Month, held every September to raise the profile of the disease. Despite being the UK’s third biggest cancer killer with 41,000 people diagnosed with it every year, blood cancer does not get the attention of other forms of the disease.

For over 25 years Linc has helped more than tens of thousands of people with blood cancer in the Southwest and West Midlands with the number of patients expected to rise. There were 320 new blood cancer cases in the UK between 2023 and 2024, and 20,000 haematology appointments per year on the Edward Jenner Clinic at Gloucester Royal and at Linc Centre in Cheltenham General Hospital. As a result, Linc has seen a continue demand on its services, especially for access to its Linc Fund. As the cost-of-living crisis escalates, the fund provides patients with critical financial support such as mortgage and rent payments, childcare costs and alternative pain relief.

Louise Neal, Chief Executive of Linc, said: “As the cost-of-living crisis continues to take its toll, we have seen an increase in the financial challenges facing patients following a cancer diagnosis. There has been a growing need from patients to access our Linc Fund, which is bespoke funding that is quick and easy to apply for to help with a wide variety of needs. Over the years we have funded everyday costs such as a mortgage and rental payments, childcare, family days out to make special memories, to craft and activity boxes for the day units, and even exercise bikes and Sky TV for the wards – things that can make a huge difference to a patient and their family’s lives.”

Linc’s further two core services include funding an award-winning clinical psychologist team which works with the Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to support patient’s well-being, and Linc Research which gives patient’s receiving NHS treatment in the county access to innovative clinical trials and medicines that were not previously available.

Linc’s latest appeal is aiming to raise £30,000 by teaming up with its patrons, television personality and famous interior designer, Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen and his wife, Jackie, to host an elegant Cotswold Snowball on 7^thDecember at Ingleside House in Cirencester.  The event, sponsored by local businesses and generous VIPs, includes cocktails upon arrival, a three-course meal, live band and silent auction. Bottles of Maximalist Gin, a new collaboration between Linc, Gloucester Brewery, and Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen, will also be on sale. Tickets are available to all, with several celebrity VIPs expected to attend and all money raised from the event will go towards Linc’s three core services.

Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen said: “I am outrageously delighted to host this years’ Cotswold Snowball in aid of Linc Charity. Through glamour, generosity, and gin we are hoping to further support Linc’s campaign to care for those affected by the invisible adversary that is blood cancer.”

Louise added: “Everyone at Linc is so grateful to our amazing patrons’ Jackie and Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen for hosting the incredible Cotswold Snowball in aid of our work. The event promises to be an exceptional evening of music and celebration while raising money to support local blood cancer patients and their families.

“As a charity we rely entirely on voluntary donations and the money raised through our shops, to fund our essential work. We offer emotional and financial support for patients, and we are committed to expanding our services in line with what is needed. However, the only way we can do this is through raising more money. Every day we hear about the positive impact of our work and so it’s an honour for people to be supporting Linc Charity by attending this incredible event.”

Local Bishops Cleeve in Tewksbury resident, Nikki Tandy, is one such blood cancer patient who has benefited from Linc’s support. Nikki explained: “When I was facing an intensive stage of treatment that also coincided with the school summer holidays the Linc Fund provided me with a grant to cover the daily cost of sending my 5-year-old son to a summer holiday club.

“This invaluable support allowed me to attend daily treatment and my husband to continue working, with peace of mind in knowing our son was having fun and being well looked after during his summer break. My treatment meant I hadn’t been able to work for a long time, so I was no longer eligible for sick pay. Financially we couldn’t have covered the cost of the summer camp. We are so grateful to the Linc Fund for their help.”

The Cotswold Snowball will host 150 seats with tickets priced at £120 per person. Tickets are available to buy here: https://linccharity.org/event/cotswold-snowball/

To register interest to sponsor elements of the event or to provide auction prizes, please contact louise.neal8@nhs.net.