Husband assumes top charity role

Mrs Roeder, who set up the organisation after the death of her daughter Laura aged 17 in 1996, has overseen the growth of the Trust to its current position as a leading funder of research into cancer in teenagers and young adults.

Mrs Roeder said: “In the hope of ultimately protecting other young people and their families from the tragedy and trauma that we had known, I decided, the day Laura died, to pick up the fight where she left off, hoping to raise approximately £10,000 a year to fund research, specifically into cancer in teenagers and young adults.

“The Trust, however, passed its first £1,000,000 mark in little over 10 years and continues to grow. After 15 years working solidly for the trust it’s time to step down, safe in the knowledge that the charity is in the healthiest position it has ever been.”

The new chairman is her husband Malcolm Roeder, who said: “Without Jacquie’s dedication and selfless commitment... the Trust would not be as strong as it is now.”