Frank’s Fund is a Harrogate-based charity set up by the Ashton family after their son Frank died from a rare form of bone cancer last year.
Frank Ashton was a “brave, funny, kind and positive” young man who loved playing sports and going to Nando’s with friends.
He lived in Harrogate with his family and beloved dog Barney and attended St Aidan’s high school.
But in May 2016 the family’s world changed when Frank was diagnosed with Ewing Sarcoma. Frank went through relentless rounds of chemotherapy, all the time staying positive.
Frank’s family said he was always smiling.
By May 2017, Frank’s tumour had been removed during an eight hour operation and he had gone through 12 months of chemotherapy – he was in remission.
Only five months later, in September 2017, the cancer came back. This was just before Frank’s 13th birthday. Louise Ashton, Frank’s mum, said:
“With a cancer like this when it comes back there is no treatment, it’s like being given a life sentence. The doctors said he has two years to live, he had another seven months of chemo.”
Over the next year Frank continued to remain positive and see his friends but in January 2019 his health was failing fast and Frank died a month later, aged 14.
Frank’s Fund was set up to keep Frank’s memory alive and remind people of the positive person he was.
Louise added:
“He had a fantastic smile and we miss him massively. We set up the charity to keep Frank’s memory alive, we want him to be remembered as the funny boy he was.”
Frank’s Fund was set up to raise funds to go to dedicated cancer research. Primary bone cancer received just 0.028% of funding from major UK cancer charities in 2018/2019. The treatment and survival rates of this cancer haven’t improved in over 30 years.
To donate to the fund click here.
Louise said:
“It’s really shocking how little this cancer receives. The best way for people to fund bone cancer research is to give to a dedicated charity. I would have been really angry if I knew how little funding went into research when Frank was alive.
But now we are doing something about it with Frank’s Fund.”
Read more:
- Charity Corner: the charity offering “new beginnings” to domestic abuse victims.
- The dogs charity trying to raise funds for a new charity base.
Frank’s family with Maisie Adam a charity patron (second from the left) and other comedians who performed during the charity’s comedy night last year.
The family are determined to raise as much as they can to follow Frank’s wishes to prevent children suffering as he did.
This year several of their fundraising events have been cancelled but they are continuing to fundraise with a virtual comedy night on December 11 and selling Christmas cards, follow the charity on Facebook to see updates.
