Ali's Dream charity was set up by Alison Phelan's family and friends to raise funds for research into discovering the causes, advancing treatments and finding a cure for childhood brain tumours.

Sadly this was spurred on by the loss of Alison at the beginning of June 2001, three weeks before her eighth birthday. Ali was diagnosed with a brain tumour in August 2000. Her family did not give up hope, exploring many avenues to find their miracle cure. They discovered that there is very little research being undertaken in this particular cancer area. The chances of finding a cure in the next five years are very remote. What's more, after accidents, brain tumours are now the biggest cancer killer of children under fifteen.

Having lost Ali, the family are united in grief, but also united in the determination to do something so that a cure can be found sooner rather than later. The following have kindly agreed to be patrons: Lorraine Kelly (TV presenter), David Connolly (Republic of Ireland and Wigan footballer), Mr & Mrs Colin Montgomerie (Golfer), Susan Hampshire (Actress), Sheila Hancock (Actress)

We are delighted that Lorraine Kelly (TV presenter), David Connolly (Republic of Ireland and Sunderland Footballer), Colin Montgomerie (Golfer), Susan Hampshire (Actress), Sheila Hancock (Actress), Glenn Roeder (Manager of Norwich CIty Football Team) and Darren Gough (Cricketer) have agreed to be patrons.

Lorraine Kelly

Born in Glasgow in 1959, Lorraine took her Scottish Highers before joining Scottish and Universal Newspapers. In 1983 she joined BBC Scotland as a researcher, before moving to TV-am in 1984 as a senior on-screen reporter covering Scottish news. In July1989 Lorraine presented TV-am's 'Summer Sunday' programme with chief reporter Geoff Meade, and in February 1990 she became the main presenter of 'Good Morning Britain' with Mike Morris. In April 1991 she was awarded the TRIC Diamond Jubilee Award for New Talent of the Year. Lorraine joined GMTV in January 1993, and presented a range of programmes for the breakfast television station including the main show with Eamonn Holmes. Lorraine took maternity leave in 1994 and gave birth to her daughter Rosie on 8th June, returning to GMTV later that year to present her own show, 'Nine O'Clock Live'. The show was later extended and re-titled 'Lorraine Live', and was re-named 'LK Today' in the autumn of 2000.

As well as her GMTV programme, Lorraine has hosted her own lunchtime show on Talk Radio. She presented 'A Family of Their Own' and 'A Question of TV', and more recently 'Liquid News' for the BBC. She has appeared on 'Have I Got News For You?', 'So Graham Norton', 'Room 101' and 'Newsnight'. She also writes weekly columns for The Sun, and the Sunday Post (Scotland). Lorraine has written two books in the 'Fun to Learn' series for pre-school children and more recently 'Lorraine Kelly's Baby and Toddler Eating Plan' which was released in December 2002.

Lorraine has releases three videos: 'Bringing Up Baby' (1994), a 60-minute video for first-time mothers which stars herself and her baby daughter Rosie; and two fitness videos, ' Figure it Out' (1998) and 'Figure Happy' (1999).

From September 2001 - May 2002 Lorraine presented her own gossip programme produced by GMTV for Sky One, which featured a cocktail of gossip, beauty tips, celebrity interviews and episodes of 'ER', 'Friends' and 'Veronica's Closet'. She also has presented 'This Morning' with Phillip Schofield, standing in for Fern Britton.

Lorraine, an avid supporter of Dundee United, is married to Steve Smith, a freelance cameraman. They live in Berkshire with their daughter Rosie.

Susan Hampshire

An internationally acclaimed actress, Susan shot to fame and gained her first EMMY award playing Fleur in 'The Forsyte Saga'. Trained as a ballet dancer and educated at her mother June's school in Knightsbridge, she made her stage debut in repertory in Bognor Regis playing Dora in 'Night must fall'. Several years later she started her film career, co-starring opposite Albert Finney in the film version of the play. Susan made her West End debut in the musical 'Express Bongo' and has enjoyed a distinguished stage career including Shakespeare, musicals, classic dramas and light comedies. Most recently she has played Molly in the highly successful BBC1 TV series 'Monarch of the Glen'.

She has also written several books including a series of children's books. Two of her books are about her lifelong struggle with dyslexia, 'Susan's Story' and 'Every letter counts'.

"To all of you who have worked so hard for Ali's Dream, and have put so much love and effort into fund-raising events, a million congratulations and thanks.

The money you have raised so far is wonderful, so let's hope it will continue.

Your response to Ali's Dream has made such a difference".

With all best wishes as ever

Sheila Hancock

Sheila Hancock has recently been seen in programmes such as EASTENDERS and the children's drama series FEATHER BOY and is very pleased to have been able to support Ali's Dream. Her own grandson had a brain tumour and is now fully recovered after being treated at Great Ormond Street hospital.

Colin Montgomerie

Colin Montgomerie is one of his generation’s most recognisable and endearing sports stars and is a true statesman of golf. Over the last decade Colin has emerged as the undisputed leading European golfer. Colin, known affectionately to millions around the world as ‘Monty’, is one of Britain’s most admired sportsmen and has held centre stage in numerous tournament victories and in four titanic Ryder Cup struggles of the 1990’s. After an illustrious Amateur career, the boy from Troon turned pro in 1987 and was Rookie of the Year in Europe in 1988. After an illustrious Amateur career, the boy from Troon turned pro in 1987 and was Rookie of the Year in Europe in 1988. After his first (11 shot) victory on Tour at the Portuguese Open he has climbed up the European Money List progressively until in 1993 he became Europe’s No 1, a position he retained for an unprecedented run of seven years and he has now earned more prize money than any British golfer in history.

Colin has consistently ranked amongst the world’s best golfers since moving into the top 10 of the World Rankings in 1994. 1999 produced a record equalling five victories in Europe and he was never outside the Top 20 in any tournament. This is evidence of the fact that Colin rightly proved himself to be the most consistent golfer in the world during the 1990’s. Victory in the Novotel Perrier Open de France and his record breaking third successive victory in the Volvo PGA Championship ensured that Colin’s winning streak continued into 2000. Colin started his 2001 season in the best possible way by winning the Ericsson Australian Masters and in 2002, he won his first title in Asia, the TCL Classic in China, one week after sharing 1 st place with Bernhard Langer in the 2002 Volvo Masters – his 27th European title.

At the Belfry in 2002, Colin led the European Cup Ryder Team from the front to a victorious win under Sam Torrance’s inspired captaincy. In much the same way as at the 1999 Ryder Cup at Brookline, he emerged as a figurehead for the Team and his self-control and outstanding performances drew accolades from across the sporting spectrum. This was again evident in the 35th Ryder Cup Matches at Oakland Hills in September 2004. Monty led from the start to finish, winning the first point for the Europeans with Padraig Harrington and holing the vital winning putt in his singles match, to give the Europeans their greatest Ryder Cup triumph over the USA.

He has had 38 tournament victories around the world, his last win being the 2004 Caltex Masters in Singapore. He is one of the most recognisable sportsmen in the game, as well as being seen as an ambassador for Scottish, British and European golf.

Colin Montgomery’s name is synonymous with quality as the names of the companies he works with illustrate. He is an intelligent and articulate sportsman and, as such, has a growing business career based around his own international network of companies and he works closely along with his management company, IMG, with his numerous global business interests and corporate associations.

 

Darren Gough

Born in Barnsley on 18th September 1970, Darren has had a colourful career culminating with International renown as an England Cricketer and is currently Captain of Yorkshire County Cricket Club. What’s more he is one of England’s most successful ever wicket takers. Recently he has become even more famous having won BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing with partner Lilia Kopylova in 2005. Darren lives with his wife Anna and their two sons in Buckinghamshire. When Darren and Anna read Ali’s story they were moved to tears at the thought of losing a child - every parent’s worst nightmare. Darren is proud to become a patron of Ali’s Dream and help make people aware of childhood brain tumours. He hopes to meet some of our supporters at one of our events one day.