Charity ceilidh in Leamington to raise awareness of cruel disease

This is something the Henderson family has recently experienced, with their father Duncan about to undergo his second round of stem cell treatment at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham in the New Year.

Claire Watkins, founder of the event and Duncan’s eldest daughter, said: “As a family, it was a shock for us when our father was diagnosed out of the blue before he had even turned 60.

“It’s a disease that never goes away, as he tries new treatments and embarks on new drug trials. Recently his paraprotein levels rose again and I felt I had to do something – no matter how small – to raise awareness of this terrible disease and help drive donations to Myeloma UK, a fantastic charity supporting research and families and patients like my dad. We welcome as many people as possible down on Saturday, or to simply visit our website to find out more.”

The event, which connects to the family’s hereditary link with Scotland, is open to all ages and will be held at the Family Tree in Kenilworth Street, Leamington, from 6pm to 10pm.

Music will be provided by The Kale-y Collective to which people can dance with the help of a caller for the steps.

There will be a light supper for everyone, a bar and various raffle prizes.

All money raised will go to Myeloma UK.

Myeloma, also known as multiple myeloma, is a cancer arising from plasma cells, a type of white blood cell that is made in the bone marrow.

Plasma cells form part of the immune system and in myeloma, these plasma cells become abnormal, multiply uncontrollably and release only one type of antibody – known as paraprotein – which has no useful function. Unlike many cancers, myeloma does not exist as a lump or tumour.

Most of the medical problems related to myeloma are caused by the build-up of the abnormal plasma cells in the bone marrow and the presence of the paraprotein in the blood or in the urine.

Myeloma affects multiple places in the body where bone marrow is normally active in an adult (ie within the bones of the spine, skull, pelvis, the rib cage, long bones of the arms and legs and the areas around the shoulders and hips).

Tickets for the event cost £12.

To find out more visit www.myelomaparty.com or for more on myeloma visit www.myeloma.org.uk/