PENGUINS AGAINST CANCER
THE FERGUS FUND
The 2019 Fergus Fund Research Bursary: Neuroblastoma Research
The £5,000 2019 Fergus Scholefield Cancer Research Fund Bursary has been awarded to Dr Sally George of the Institute of Cancer Research to help fund her PhD research project into “The identification of PARPi resistance mechanisms in ATRX mutant neuroblastoma to guide novel combination strategies”.
Dr George is Clinical Research Fellow in Paediatric Tumour Biology and is a Consultant Paediatric Oncologist at the Royal Marsden Hospital. Her research is identifying new ways to target certain gene mutations that cause neuroblastoma: one of the most common solid tumours affecting babies and young children which remains very difficult to treat.
“Children deserve the very best cancer treatments so they can live as long as possible and as well as possible.”, explains Dr George, “We desperately need better, more intelligently-designed treatments which can give children longer with their families with fewer side effects”.
The Fergus Scholefield Cancer Research Fund
in 2016 Penguins Against Cancer was very proud to launch the Fergus Scholefield Cancer Research Fund, in memory of a brave young man who, at the tender age of 2, battled through the treatment of his brain tumour with the support of family and friends. Sadly, it was not possible to cure him of the disease and Fergus died before his third birthday.
We know that Fergus's journey and strength has inspired many more to improve the lives of others and continue the search for better understanding and treatments for cancer.
This Bursary supports researchers in cancer to keep pushing the boundaries so that Fergus’s short life continues to motivate people for many years to come.
The Bursary is awarded annually, through a strict and rigorous vetting process. It has been set by the Penguins Trustees at a maximum amount of £5,000. This amount will be reviewed annually by the Trustees.
If you are interested in applying for our 2021 Bursary award and wish to be considered by us, please click on the buttons below to learn more about the Terms of Reference for the award, and to download an Application Form. Please email completed Application Forms to us at penguinsagainstcancer@outlook.com. Thank you.
Read here about previous
Fergus Fund Research Bursaries:
2018 Award click here
2016 Award click here
Fergus with his older brother, Chester
Message from Barney Scholefield, the father of Fergus, and part of the Penguins family.
We are honoured that our dear Fergus shall bear his name and memory to a bursary in support of cancer research. Fergus loved life and with the guidance of his older brother, Chester, and his dad was learning how brilliant rugby was and the lifelong friendships that can develop through the game.
At the tender age of 2, he battled through the treatment of his brain tumour with the support of his family and friends. We were sadly unable to cure him of the disease and he died before his third birthday. However, we know that his journey and strength has inspired many more to improve the lives of others in the future and continue the search for better understanding and treatments for cancer. We hope that this bursary will support the researchers to keep pushing the boundaries and that Fergus’ short life will continue to inspire people for many years to come.
Fergus with his proud Dad, Barney