A WEST Ham legend visited a brain tumour research centre after raising thousands of pounds for charity

Former Hammer Tony Cottee, who lives in Leigh, is a patron at Clowns in the Sky, a charity set up after the death of Jennifer Chambers, three, from South London, in 2004. 

He visited the brain tumour research’s centre of excellence at Queen Mary University in London, alongside Jennifer’s parents, to learn more about the research and place a tile on the Wall of Hope. 

The centre, one of four receiving funding from the brain tumour research charity, is focused on research to improve treatments for patients with brain tumours and, ultimately, finding a cure.

Each tile laid on the wall represents the £2,740 it costs to fund a day of research.

Clowns in the Sky works with the national charity Brain Tumour Research and sponsors entertainers in children’s wards in 37 hospitals across England and also supplies arts and crafts and sensory trolleys to hospital playrooms.

It also sponsors entertainer visits to many of these hospitals.

Tony said: “It’s an honour to visit one of the brain tumour research centres of excellence and see where all the research takes place. 

“I agreed to become a patron of the charity having discovered brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer and the life expectancy for brain tumour patients is so poor with less than 20 per cent surviving beyond five years, compared with an average of 50 per cent across all cancers. 

“And I can see what the charity brings to children and their families when we go on hospital visits; Clowns in the Sky is about bringing smiles and we certainly deliver.

“The tile we placed symbolises not only the money Clowns in the Sky has raised but also commemorates Jennifer, as well as honouring all children lost to brain tumours or living with the serious long-lasting effects caused by this disease and its treatment.” 

To donate visit clownsinthesky.org/donations/