Lynn and Lynn Lucas, founders of Chris Lucas Trust, received MBEs from Prince William

Lynn and Lynn Lucas, founders of the Chris Lucas Trust, were honored with MBEs (Members of the Order of the British Empire) from Prince William in recognition of their dedication to fundraising for childhood cancer research.

About The Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)

The Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) is a prestigious honor awarded to individuals for significant contributions to society, particularly in fields such as the arts, sciences, charity, and public service.

The MBE was established in 1917 by King George V to recognize contributions to the war effort during World War I. It is one of several awards within the Order of the British Empire, which also includes Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) and Knight or Dame Commander (KBE/DBE).

About Chris Lucas Trust

The Chris Lucas Trust was established in July 2000, after the tragic death of teenager Chris Lucas from rhabdomyosarcoma – a cancer that resembles muscle tissue. Since then, Chris’s parents, Lynn and Lynn, have raised over £2 million for research at the ICR and continue their fundraising efforts through flagship events such as the Great North Bike Ride.

Chris Lucas with his parents

Before his diagnosis in July 1997, Chris Lucas was a strong 15-year-old who enjoyed playing rugby, cricket, and basketball. After bravely battling the disease twice and achieving commendable GCSE results, he began a career in graphic design. Unfortunately, after three years of fighting cancer, Chris passed away.

The Chris Lucas Trust aims to facilitate the rapid translation of new targeted therapies into clinical practice to prevent other families from experiencing similar losses.

The collaboration between the Chris Lucas Trust, the Institute of Cancer Research, and The Royal Marsden – as well as national and European organizations – positions them at the forefront of sarcoma research with the potential to advance discoveries for patient benefit.

“The Chris Lucas Trust chose to support the ICR since we believe in their commitment to develop new drugs to help children and young adults suffering from cancer to live longer, and ultimately to find a cure for rhabdomyosarcoma. We recognised their expertise in childhood cancer when we first sought advice about funding research.” – Chris Lucas’s Mom

The Chris Lucas Trust has been actively fundraising for over 20 years, with 16 years dedicated to supporting research into rhabdomyosarcoma in partnership with the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR). Under the leadership of Professor Janet Shipley, this collaboration includes work with the Royal Marsden Hospital (RMH). The ICR, along with its clinical partner, the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, forms the largest comprehensive cancer research center in Europe.

Donations from the trust have already contributed to significant studies that discovered how combining two molecularly-targeted therapies could inhibit processes driving growth in rhabdomyosarcoma, a leading cause of cancer-related deaths among children and young adults.

Institute of Cancer Research:

“HUGE congratulations to Lynn and Lynn Lucas, founders of Chris Lucas Trust on receiving their MBEs from Prince William in honour of their dedication to fundraising.

They set up The Chris Lucas Trust after their son, Christopher, died aged 15 in the year 2000 from rhabdomyosarcoma.

We were delighted to welcome them to our Sutton campus to visit Professor Janet Shipley and her team, who shared research progress made possible by their generous support over many years.

Other members of the Sarcoma Molecular Pathology Group shared recent progress – with Dr Sheena Guram outlining how vulnerabilities in rhabdomyosarcoma cells could be targeted with therapies, and Dr. Supriti Ghosh explaining the use of liquid biopsies in rhabdomyosarcoma patients.

We are deeply grateful for their tireless work and generosity.”

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