Prime Minister, Theresa May has recognised Pam and Mike White as ‘Points of Light’, a title that acknowledges their outstanding volunteer work for the Sam White Legacy in raising tens of thousands of pounds to help children with cancerous brain tumours.

In a personal letter to Mike and Pam received in December 2016, Prime Minister Theresa May said:

“‘The Sam White Legacy’ is having a tremendous impact on children with brain tumours. Your work is a wonderful to tribute to Sam’s life.”

The Sam White Legacy has raised £117,000 to fund a mock MRI scanner at Nottingham Queen’s Medical Centre, to reduce fear and claustrophobia among children needing to be scanned, as well as paying for a research student and providing respite holidays for brain tumour patients and their families.

The Sam White LegacyMike said:

“Sam had told us that if there was a time he was no longer around he would expect us to continue with all he had started. The legacy began.

“We both also feel very proud to be members on the board of the Children’s Brain Tumour Research Centre, a charity that Sam had supported and helped to raise awareness of.”

Pam said:

“If there is an opportunity to improve the future and outcome for brain tumour patients then that chance should be seized and made the best of, helping to make a vital difference to their life and future and also to that of their loved ones.”

Professor of paediatric oncology at The University of Nottingham‘s Children’s Brain Tumour Research Centre, Dr David Walker said:

“Without Sam’s advocacy as a young person and his parents’ love and determination to make his life meaningful during and after his life we would all be poorer and less aware of the challenges that this group of serious diseases present to society, not only for children and their families but for the whole age range so affected.”

This article was originally printed in the Nottingham Evening Post and can be found here.