30 Jan 2025 Other

“Leukaemia changes everyone’s life.”: Chris Corbin OBE announced as a Leukaemia UK patron

The renowned restauranteur Chris Corbin OBE has been announced as a patron for blood cancer charity Leukaemia UK. Coinciding with the 30th anniversary of the stem cell transplant which saved his life, after he was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML). 

His story is all the more remarkable as Chris eventually met and made lifelong friends with the stranger who donated his own bone marrow cells so Chris could live.  

Chris and his business partner Jeremy King created Le Caprice in 1981, which soon became a celebrity hot-spot enjoyed by the likes of Princess Diana and Mick Jagger. The Corbin & King restaurant group powered on to launch The Wolseley, The Ivy, Colbert and The Delauney. 

But in early 1990 Chris was diagnosed with CML. 

“I was 38 at the time and had just opened The Ivy” said Chris, now 72 and semi-retired living in Clapham with his wife Francine. “It started with just a small rash under my arm. When they took blood tests and told me I had cancer it was like a thunderbolt. I had a life-threatening disease.”  

Chris was treated at Hammersmith Hospital where he was put under the expert care of the renowned haematologist Professor John Goldman, who had established Leuka – the charity that became Leukaemia UK. Chris underwent several years of drug treatment but was eventually told he would need a stem cell transplant. In June 1994 Chris was matched with a donor through Anthony Nolan. 

With the anonymous donation of cells came a postcard which said: “Dear Recipient, I’ve just had a pint of Guinness – I hope it does what it says on the can for you. Your Donor.” The card was from Leicestershire businessman Stewart North.  

The transplant put Chris in full remission. Grateful to eventually be able to resume work and family life, he also made the time to write a heartfelt thankyou letter to his anonymous donor. This started an 18-month exchange of letters and postcards, Anthony Nolan eventually facilitated a meeting between the pair and they immediately hit it off.  

Chris and Stewart both with orange shirts on, smiling at the camera“Stewart came into the room and just said: ‘So this is Chris, is it?’,” said Chris. “It was very easy and natural. We realised we had children of similar ages, we were both in, we came from similar backgrounds and had so many parallels in our lifestyles. Oddly enough we also have very similar handwriting!” The friendship has gone from strength to strength over the past three decades and has been sealed by family roles – Chris is now godfather to Stewart’s son Charlie, and Francine is godmother to his daughter Fae.  

Stewart’s donation enabled Chris to see his twins grow up – James, and Amy, who has followed in her father’s footsteps and established the South London restaurant chain Kudu with husband Patrick.  

It also enabled Chris to push ahead with a personal ambition to help those diagnosed with leukaemia in the future. In 1998 he was brought in alongside chef Peter Gordon to develop ‘Who’s Cooking Dinner?’, a glittering dining event where guests enjoy food prepared by mystery celebrity chefs. 

Over the years the annual event has raised over £8million for research into kinder, more effective treatments for leukaemia, first with the charity Leuka and then with Leukaemia UK.  This has supported the charity to fund transformative research into leukaemia and other blood cancers, including funding over 60 John Goldman Fellowships. Named after Professor Goldman, these grants offer pioneering early career scientists across the UK vital funding and mentorship to help take innovative discoveries from the laboratory to clinical practice. 

Chris remains in full remission and has just reached the 30th anniversary of his stem cell transplant. After years of volunteering as the Chair of the Board of Trustees at Leukaemia UK, he has now stepped down but accepted the lifelong role of Patron.  

“I first became a Trustee after Professor Goldman invited me to join the Board at Leuka. When we merged with Leukaemia UK that enabled us to take the work of both charities to the next level and create a greater force for good. The now national charity has gone from strength-to-strength and is determined to work towards a future where leukaemia stops devastating lives. I was honoured and delighted to be asked to be Patron and I’m now looking forward to continuing to support their incredible work.  

“Leukaemia of course changes everyone’s life – but it was profound for me, and in so many positive ways. I’ve raised lots of money to help fund life-changing research, I’ve met some wonderful people, and I feel like I’ve given back because I was so very lucky to receive so much.”  

Fiona Hazell, CEO of Leukaemia UK, said: “Chris’ diagnosis and desire to give back has, 30 years on, resulted in an incredible legacy of blood cancer research and a community of exceptionally talented scientists, producing critical breakthroughs in leukaemia which will benefit families for generations to come. We are delighted to be able to recognise his significant contribution to leukaemia research by making him a Patron. 

Despite advances in research, the impact of leukaemia remains enormous; half of all people diagnosed with leukaemia in the UK will not survive beyond five years. With Chris’ continued to support as patron, Leukaemia UK is dedicated to funding research to find kinder and more effective treatments, as we continue to work towards a future where leukaemia stops devastating lives.” 

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