The Story

A New Hope for Charlie

We are reaching out to ask for your help in a race against time for our dear friend Charlie Paton.

In October 2023, 39 year old Charlie, a dedicated runner and non-smoker was blindsided by a diagnosis of Stage 4 terminal lung cancer. Swiftly identified as ALK positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), Charlie and his family started coming to terms with a median life expectancy of only 7 years.

Initially Charlie responded well to oral medication approved to target ALK positive lung cancer, but in under three years, Charlie has faced progression time and time again. Chemotherapy has been the last resort, and he has undergone a gruelling 3 weekly cycle with horrendous side effects for nearly 9 months with an attempt to extend his life. While thankfully some patients are still going strong 10 years after their diagnosis of Stage 4 Alk positive, Charlie now finds himself left with no viable options to keep the cancer under control and no prospect of a future, at less than 3 years into his journey.

The Challenge

The Royal Marsden will be launching an exciting trial in August that could benefit Charlie, but even our wonderful Professor can't get him there in time to try. With his endorsement, Charlie's wife and a team of dedicated friends have worked day and night to find a space for Charlie in this same trial that has recently started recruiting in the States.

The Life-Saving Opportunity: Triana (TRI-611) Molecular Glue Degrader Trial

In March this year, the first few people on the planet started this ground-breaking clinical trial, specifically designed for ALK-positive patients. Unlike traditional medication that Charlie has exhausted, TRI-611 works by tagging the cancer-driving proteins for destruction by the body’s own machinery. It is a completely new way of targeting Alk positive cancer, and could prove to be life-changing as well as life-saving.

Miraculously, and thanks to a wonderful clinic in Virginia, USA, we managed to secure a space for Charlie in a site just outside of Washington D.C. This will be an amazing opportunity and a vital chance for us to be able to extend Charlie's life.

Of course to access this trial, we have had to step away from the wonderful care of the Professor in the UK and take a leap of faith stateside.

How Your Donations Will Be Used

The cost of participation in the trial is mercifully covered, but there are many other costs associated with being an international patient that you may already be aware of. If you were able to spare a thought about whether to help us get Charlie to the States, your donation would contribute towards:

Charlie has already visited Virginia for one week of tests, consent forms and preliminary examinations. The more information we can gather, the more we can share on this platform.

A Message of Thanks

Charlie has spent the last few years of his life trying to fight a disease that no one has ever overcome. The brutality of chemotherapy with no cure has been torturous physically, mentally and emotionally. But he is not ready to give up, and with the potential of TRI-611, he doesn't have to. Every donation, no matter the size, brings him one step closer to Virginia and this life-saving opportunity.

Please consider donating and sharing this page with your network to help Charlie get the treatment he deserves.

With gratitude,

Charlotte, family and loving friends, Ash, George, Ed and Lu x