LCS Organist, Syd Birrell, teams up with Mickey Mouse at Sotheby's in New York

TORONTO: The James Fund, Canada’s leading fund in the fight against neuroblastoma, the most deadly form of childhood cancer, has the ear of some pretty big supporters -- and the support of some pretty big ears.

The James Fund was established at Toronto's Sick Kids Foundation by the family of James Birrell to generate knowledge that will enable new therapies for the treatment of patients with neuroblastoma. Syd Birrell, father of James, has been the Organist at the Grove Chapel for more than twenty years.

The James Fund has rapidly grown to be Canada’s leading neuroblastoma research initiative and actor Tom Hanks is its Honourary Patron. To date, nine research projects have been funded, six papers published, a drug-testing unit has been established and several international collaborations are underway which brings new hope to the parents of children suffering from this terrible childhood cancer.

In New York on September 27th 2005, Sotheby’s, the world renown auction centre, and the Walt Disney Company will conclude the celebration of Mickey's 75th anniversary by auctioning 75 uniquely-designed statues of Mickey, including Space Mouse, which was designed by actor Tom Hanks. All proceeds from the sale of Space Mouse will benefit The James Fund for Neuroblastoma Research at Sick Kids Hospital.

Hanks and James Birrell befriended each other over the course of several phone conversations and letters before James died three and a half years ago at the age of eight. They shared a fascination about space and Hanks starred in James’ favourite movie, “Apollo 13,” the true story of three astronauts who battled incredible odds to make it back home when all seemed lost. Space Mouse was designed with James in mind.

“We’re very grateful for the ongoing support of our Honourary Patron, Tom Hanks, and now Disney as we look for a cure for this terrible disease,” said Syd Birrell, father of James and James’ siblings Rebecca (13) and Ben (9).

The Space Mouse statue of Mickey stands about six feet tall and weighs about 700 pounds. As a combined group, proceeds from auctioning the 75 statues are expected to reach in excess of $1 million US for the support of about 50 worthy causes.

“In a perfect world, it would be a Canadian company or person who would purchase Space Mouse and display it somewhere for future generations of Canadian children to enjoy,” Birrell continued, “but wherever Space Mouse ends up, it will endure as a legacy to James’ love of fun, adventure and his commitment to fighting neuroblastoma.”

“When I have to make the choice, it will always be to keep battling cancer,” James once said. “I am not giving up!” Of the Fund that bears his name, he said, “With all this experimenting, they’ll get it figured out and then all the kids with neuroblastoma will be able to survive.”

Those words have galvanized the team of James Fund scientists as they work toward a day when no child will suffer the horrors of this disease which claims a child somewhere in North America every sixteen hours.

James’ remarkable and spirited fight against neuroblastoma is the subject of an uplifting and inspiring book by his father Syd called “Ya Can’t Let Cancer Ruin Your Day.” With a foreword by Tom Hanks, the book is the collection of journals Syd wrote and shared via email throughout James’ five-year illness. It chronicles not only James’ fight against cancer, but also, the extraordinary adventures they shared as a family while they packed as much living as possible into the very short time they had left with James.

For more information on the charity auction, visit James Birrell's Space Mouse.

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