We Support Charitable Projects

As well as supporting individuals through their own health issues, Billie’s Fund supports charitable projects that advance the care of those with cancer and long term health conditions.

Previously we have contributed to:

Leukaemia UK‘s Mind and Body programme. The aim is to ensure that the advances achieved in medical treatments are matched by much greater emotional and wellbeing care for the person affected by blood cancer and their loved ones

Their first team of dedicated counsellor and clinical psychologist support specifically designed for haematological patients will be located at King’s College Hospital in London, for an initial period of two years. They hope to find that patients recover faster, need fewer medications and can be released from hospital sooner when they feel supported.

The creation of the new Ambulatory Care Unit at King’s College Hospital. The unit treats a range of malignant haematological conditions including myeloma (bone marrow cancer), lymphoma (lymphatic cancer) and leukaemia (blood cancer).

The unit is used to deliver bone marrow transplants and chemotherapy in an outpatient setting, enabling patients to remain in their homes or hotel close by rather than requiring a hospital admission. Funding was provided by LIBRA and Leukaemia UK.

The development of a new state-of-the-art 60-bed Critical Care Centre funded partly by the King’s College Hospital Charity. The innovative design will not only comprise the latest technology over two floors but will also focus on space and light. The building will have floor to ceiling windows overlooking Ruskin Park. Patients will have control of their environment, allowing them to move the position of their bed to face the window or turn inwards to be with family and friends.

The unit also includes a unique roof garden to help critically unwell patients who suffer common side-effects, such as delirium. The garden will be fully equipped to enable patients – even those on life support – to be taken outside for fresh air to enhance the recovery process.

Anthony Nolan, who match incredible individuals willing to donate their blood stem cells or bone marrow to people with blood cancer and blood disorders who desperately need lifesaving transplants.

It all began in 1974. With her three-year-old son Anthony in urgent need of a bone marrow transplant, Shirley Nolan set up the world’s first register to match donors with people in desperate need.

Now, the charity helps three people each day find that lifesaving match.

Our History

Billie’s Fund was launched in March 2016, six months after Billie McPartlan (then 28) was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL).

Such was the outpouring of support that she received, Billie and her husband-to-be Tony, created a charity to give something back to King’s College Hospital in South East London as well as the charities that were helping her during her treatment.

Billie’s treatment was far from straightforward. She has spent long periods in hospital care and rehabilitation clinics. She is now managing side effects that have severely affected her mobility. It’s these experiences that led to Billie’s Fund relaunching in summer 2019. We’re always looking to support local hospitals and charitable projects but we now want to give a little help to those who, like Billie, have to manage cancer or long term health conditions.

Billie’s Story

In May 2016, Billie had a stem-cell transplant and what followed was a period of over a year as an inpatient in both King’s and Orpington Hospitals. Severe Graft vs Host Disease (GvHD) attacked her nervous system and at one point left Billie unable to move without aid.

Part of her 13 months as an inpatient included six months at the Frank Cooksey Rehabilitation Unit at Orpington Hospital. Here Billie learnt to walk again and regained some of her independence.

Unfortunately Billie’s Leukaemia relapsed in June 2018 and attempts to get it under control again resulted in a second stem cell transplant in March 2019. She continues under the care of King’s College Hospital and her experiences have shaped the aims and objectives of the re-launched Billie’s Fund.

We’re incredibly fortunate that Billie got access to some of the best medical and rehabilitation facilities but we realise that this isn’t the case for others.

That’s why Billie’s Fund wants to give a little help to those who, like Billie, have to manage cancer or long term health conditions.