Craig Evison and Victoria Morrison, a grieving couple who raised £100,000 for their late son’s cancer treatment, are taking legal action against a children’s cancer charity after being denied access to the funds for their terminally ill daughter.
The couple’s son, Kyle Morrison, died in October 2020 at age nine after battling diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG), a rare and aggressive brain tumour. Before his passing, a campaign spearheaded on Facebook and later managed by the charity Gold Geese raised a substantial sum for treatment in the United States and for “memory-making” experiences. However, due to Covid-19 restrictions, Kyle was unable to travel, and the money was never used.
Now, Craig and Victoria are seeking to use the remaining money to create special memories with their two-year-old daughter, Ruby-Rose, who has been diagnosed with Megdel syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that is typically fatal in early childhood. In court, the parents said, “We just want the money to make as many memories as we can.”
They launched a new fundraiser titled “Ruby-Rose’s Making Memories Fund” to support a final trip for the family, including a visit to Disney World in Florida to fulfil Ruby-Rose’s wish of meeting Minnie Mouse.
Gold Geese has refused to release the funds, citing that the donations were specifically raised for Kyle and intended to support other children with cancer if not used. In court, barrister William Moffett, representing the charity, said the funds must be used for children with similar cancer diagnoses and cannot be redirected to support a child with a different condition. “Gold Geese is a cancer charity, it’s on its logo,” he said. “It wouldn’t be proper for Gold Geese to stray outside the illness of child cancer.”
Moffett also argued that the terms of the original agreement signed by the couple stated the money would be used either for Kyle’s treatment or other DIPG-related causes. “There are other charities whose objects would include assisting someone with Ruby-Rose’s condition,” he added.
Craig and Victoria, representing themselves in court, argued that Ruby-Rose’s condition places her in a similarly dire situation and that the contract should allow for compassionate interpretation. “Kyle sadly passed. His sister Ruby-Rose is in an extremely rare and a very similar situation,” said Craig. “If she makes it another [month], she has outlived the hospital’s expectancy.”
The couple stated they have continued advocating for childhood cancer awareness and would not oppose any donor’s wish to redirect funds specifically for research.
Deputy Master Marc Glover described the Evison-Morrison family as “courageous” and acknowledged their exceptional hardship. He is expected to deliver a judgment at a later date.
