Released on = June 21, 2007, 3:09 am

Press Release Author = Gary Hartley

Industry = Healthcare

Press Release Summary = A Norton Canes teenager who is recovering from leukaemia
after being part of a groundbreaking new treatment trial developed by Leukaemia
Research, is to be featured in a new BBC documentary about children going through
cancer treatment.

Press Release Body = A Norton Canes teenager who is recovering from leukaemia after
being part of a groundbreaking new treatment trial developed by Leukaemia Research,
is to be featured in a new BBC documentary about children going through cancer
treatment.

Sports enthusiast Zakk Hutton, 14, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia
(ALL) on 2 March 2006 and began chemotherapy at Birmingham Children's Hospital.

He agreed to participate in the groundbreaking minimal residual disease (MRD) trial,
developed by Leukaemia Research, and received a new test to detect how much
leukaemia is left in the body after each course of treatment. This helped doctors
decide what appropriate dose of treatment was necessary for the next phase, so as to
increase chances of cure and minimise side effects.

Zakk, who is a student at Chasetown Specialist Sports College, said: "I was being
treated by Dr Velangi and he explained that the hospital was taking part in a brand
new trial. I know how important research is for finding new treatments or improving
existing ones and I wanted to take part so I could get the best available treatment
while helping other children beat leukaemia in the future."

Before his diagnosis of leukaemia, Zakk was very active, taking on sports such as
motorcross racing, scuba diving and snowboarding. But his chemotherapy affected his
mobility, meaning his activities had to be significantly cut down.

Zakk's dad Kelvin said: "It was such a shock when Zakk was diagnosed with leukaemia.
He had always been so active, so we just put his symptoms down to other things. We
assumed his bruising was due to his motorcross racing, his tiredness and moodiness
just down to his hormones as he was growing up."

"At one time, he had to use a mobility scooter, but now, Zakk is getting back into
his sport, and it's really great to see. He's started gliding and indoor skydiving,
and is scuba diving again. Slowly, life is getting back to normal, and doctors are
pleased with how well he's done. We were really pleased that he was able to take
part in the MRD test trial. Without the work of Leukaemia Research, Zakk would have
less chance of going back to a normal life."

Documentary producers Mentorn followed Zakk through treatment as part of a new BBC1
documentary series 'Children Fighting Cancer'. Zakk appears in the third programme
in the series, which is aired at 10.35pm on Tuesday 26 June.

Ends
Ref: 65
13 June 2007

For further information, please contact Gary Hartley at Leukaemia Research Press
Office on 020 7269 9019.

Notes for Editors:

1. The idea of the MRD test was initiated by Dr Nick Goulden and the late Professor
Tony Oakhill 20 years ago. Leukaemia Research has supported it with investment from
the beginning. The original research was carried out in Bristol University; it has
now
progressed to hospitals throughout the UK. The first clinical trial in the UK to
include the MRD test began in 2003. Every year samples from over 400 children at
hospitals throughout the UK are analysed at four specialist centres in Bristol,
Sheffield, Glasgow and London. The trial will finish in 2009 but is already showing
promising results. Each test costs just £600.

2. Children Fighting Cancer, produced by Mentorn, was made in association with
Leukaemia Research over a period of two years and features nine children at various
stages of treatment for leukaemia - diagnosis, chemotherapy and transplants,
remission and relapse. The four documentaries follow the children and their families
as they progress through treatment, and try and maintain their normal lives. The
personal stories are interwoven with explanations about the groundbreaking
scientific breakthroughs that are generating hope for the future.

3. Over the next five years, Leukaemia Research urgently needs to raise over
£100million to commit to new research. From basic laboratory research to clinical
trials with patients, Leukaemia Research is committed to saving lives by funding
high quality, carefully selected research throughout the UK.

4. Leukaemia Research is the only national charity devoted exclusively to improving
treatments, finding cures and learning how to prevent leukaemia, Hodgkin\'s lymphoma
and other lymphomas, myeloma and the related blood disorders, diagnosed in 24,500
people in the UK every year. Further information, including patient information
booklets, is available from www.lrf.org.uk or call 020 7405 0101


Web Site = http://www.lrf.org.uk

Contact Details = t: 020 7269 9019
f: 020 7405 1288
e: ghartley@lrf.org.uk
a: Leukaemia Research, 43 Great Ormond Street, London WC1N 3JJ
w: www.lrf.org.uk