THE OWNERS of the Bodenham Arboretum near Kidderminster have been recognised by Blood Cancer UK after supporting the cause continuously for 20 years.
James and Wendy Binnian say they have seen what progress in blood cancer means and their commitment to research is a deeply personal one.
For local visitors and tourists, the arboretum is a tranquil, 170-acre woodland, including lakes and rare trees.
But, many may not know that when Wendy was just 16 and her brother Andy was 15, they lost their mother to an aggressive form of blood cancer – acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) – in the 1970s.
This was at a time when treatment options were limited and research was still in its infancy.
Years later, in 1988, James’s younger brother Ryland was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML).
James donated his own bone marrow in an attempt to save his brother’s life. Sadly, his brother died in 1989.
Increase in survival rates
Thanks to advances in research, treatments have come a long way and survival rates are improving. But blood cancer is still the UK’s third biggest cancer killer.
And since the early 1990s, following the loss of James’s brother, the Binnian family has raised more than £20,000 for Blood Cancer UK.
Their efforts include several memorable ‘band in the barn’ fundraisers, regular coffee mornings and a popular ongoing second-hand book sale at the Arboretum, which have brought communities together in support of life-saving research.
Wendy said: “We’ve lost people we loved – and that will always stay with us.
“But we’ve also seen what progress in blood cancer research means.
“It’s research that’s given people time and hopefully a cure.
“That’s why we do what we do – so that one day, no one will have to go through what we did.”
Rachel Mann Bradbury, from Blood Cancer UK, said: “We are deeply moved by James and Wendy’s enduring commitment to our cause.
“Both Wendy and James know what blood cancer takes and their tireless fundraising efforts have made a significant impact in advancing research and supporting those affected by blood cancer.”
