About The Foundation

Ben was never diagnosed with Leukaemia. He was extremely fit and healthy and certainly there were no obvious clues that he was unwell. He died of a ruptured spleen only a few hours after returning from boxing training (an enlarged spleen is one condition of the disease). It was only after Ben had died that the diagnosis (Acute Lymphatic Leukaemia) was confirmed.

Ben's parents, Neil and Donna, and his sister, Jade tried to discover more about blood cancers and why it had affected Ben in such an aggressive manner. Gradually, through speaking with other people that had been affected by blood cancers, and working closely with Leukaemia Research, they began to understand how common the disease is. Each year in the UK 40,000 people are affected by a blood cancer.

After two years of fund raising for Leukaemia Research and donating over £65,000 to the charity, Ben's family, along with family friend Sharan Berry, registered The Ben Johnson Forget Me Not Foundation in March 2010.

The aim of the charity and its objectives can be found on The Charity Commission Website. Although the main aim of the charity is the support of individuals, families and carers that are or have been affected by blood cancers, we will also continue to support research directly into the early diagnosis of the disease.

The Ben Johnson Forget Me Not Foundation is Ben's lasting legacy.