Debbie Phillips Cervical Cancer Research

On the evening of February 10, 2010, 16-year-old Arsenal fan Sarah Phillips picked up her mobile phone and sang Paolo Nutini’s “Autumn” into it, without music and pitch perfect. She intended to sing the song at her mother’s funeral. Four-and-a-half hours later, her mother, Debbie, died. 

Family friend, Charlie Mole added an accompaniment, video of family holidays was added, and it was posted on YouTube.  It has since had over 263,000 hits all around the world and raised over £65,000 for research into cervical cancer. Following an internet campaign, “make Autumn a single”, it is to be released in the next few days.

Debbie Phillips was born on October 22, 1961. After a brilliant school career, she went to Bristol University, and in 1983 she was awarded a First Class degree in Law (with, reputedly, the highest mark ever recorded). At University she met her husband, Mark, and in 1984 they married. Mark Phillips QC has represented Arsenal at disciplinary hearings for over 10 years. 

Debbie was also a lawyer, but in 1990 she chose to stop working and became a full-time mother. She and Mark had three children, Katy, Sarah and Jack. Mark told Arsenal.com: “Debbie gave us a wonderful stable home life. She made it easy for me to do my job well.  She really was the power behind my success.”

Debbie had regular cervical smear tests. Between 1990 and 2005 these were reported as negative, and when, by 2006, the cancer was finally identified, it had spread beyond her cervix and into her ovaries and lymph system. Debbie fought the cancer for four years but on February 11, 2010, aged 48, she died.

During her illness Debbie discovered that there was no research into cervical cancer therapies anywhere in the world, and compared with cancers such as breast and colon cancer, relatively few treatment options. The Debbie Phillips Cervical Cancer Research Fund has been set up with UCL to fund research into cervical cancer. The intention is that other mothers, daughters and wives will have a better outcome. Sarah’s “Autumn” is the start of that fundraising campaign, which the Club is pleased to support.

Speaking on behalf of the Club, CEO Ivan Gazidis said: “Mark has acted for the club for a number of years. I was lucky enough to meet his wife, Debbie, at the match against Hull last December.  She faced the future with realism but with astonishing grace, courage and optimism.  She was, quite simply, an extraordinary woman. 

"Ken Friar and I attended her funeral along with hundreds of people whom her life had touched.  Sarah’s song was played and deeply moved everyone who was present. We wish the campaign to raise money for research into cervical cancer every success.”

Sarah’s Song has so far to raised over £65,000 for the Debbie Phillips Cervical Cancer Research Fund. 

To find out more and to donate please go to: http://www.ucl.ac.uk/cancertrust/debbie.php.

Sarah’s “Autumn” can be viewed on YouTube at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIRQvbhdR58.

Sarah’s single has now been released for download on iTunes for 79p

 

[Wednesday, March 17, 2010]

Print this page Email to a friend