The Griffiths and Alphonso families from Cleobury Mortimer, supported by their local community, have raised nearly quarter of a million pounds in memory of their loved ones, Toby and Rick who passed away from blood cancer in 2025.

Toby Griffiths was 22 when he was diagnosed in November 2023 but unfortunately despite a number of blood transfusions, several rounds of chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant from his brother Charlie, Toby sadly passed away on Saturday 25 July 2025.

The Griffiths family joined fundraising forces with Debbie Alphonso who lost her husband Rick in August 2025, just 12 days after being diagnosed with Leukaemia.

In 2026 the families have been fundraising for blood cancer charity Cure Leukaemia, which has seen them take on a number of challenges and bring their community together to raise over £225,000.

In May 2026, Stuart, his son Charlie Griffiths and six close friends completed Land’s End to John O’Groats, riding 1,000-plus-mile cycle ride across the UK, raising over £36,000.

Toby's mum, Katie, along with 30 friends took on the gruelling 22-mile Bridgnorth Lions Walk in May, raising over £16,000.

After losing two members of the local community to leukaemia, Louis and Sally Staddon approached the families of Toby Griffiths and Rick Alphonso to suggest organising a clay pigeon shoot in aid of Cure Leukaemia.

The Staddon family gave up months of their time, their home and their staff and in June hosted a 'Clays for a Cure' event, which was well supported by the local shooting and farming community, raising an incredible £165,000.

In July, Debbie led a small team of friends to complete the National 3 Peaks Challenge, raising £7,500 and her son Marcus Alphonso will be running the London Marathon 2027 for Cure Leukaemia in memory of his father.

Cure Leukaemia was established in 2003 by Professor Charlie Craddock CBE and patients Graham Silk and Michael Woolley to allow patients with blood cancer to access remarkably effective new treatments which were then becoming available.

With a new blood cancer diagnosis every 27 seconds worldwide, Cure Leukaemia funds research nurses and clinical roles at blood cancer centers across the UK, providing patients with access to innovative and potentially life-saving treatments through clinical trials.

Cure Leukaemia is funding world-leading networks that are changing how blood cancer patients - both adults and children - can access cutting-edge treatments through clinical trials.

By supporting these roles, Cure Leukaemia facilitates potentially life-saving advancements in blood cancer therapies, contributing to global progress and hope for those impacted by the disease worldwide.