Ben Hardwick
Encyclopedia
Benjamin Hardwick was Britain's youngest liver transplant patient. He became a celebrity through appearing on the BBC television programme That's Life!
after his parents appealed for more awareness of organ donation
when their son, who suffered from liver disease
, urgently needed a transplant. Ben received his new liver at the age of two but he died in hospital soon afterwards, a few months after his third birthday.
In his memory, his family set up the Ben Hardwick Memorial Fund, which aimed to offer financial support to the families of children who suffer from primary liver disease. British celebrity Esther Rantzen
, who hosted That's Life! and co-wrote a book based on Ben's story, was a trustee on the Fund's board. The Ben Hardwick Fund took over the work of the Ben Hardwick Fund in 1997. Esther Rantzen is patron of the present fund, which helps children suffering from primary liver disease with costs associated with their illness.
In 1985 Marti Webb
released as a tribute a cover version of the Michael Jackson
song "Ben
", which reached number 5 in the UK charts, the royalties being donated to the Memorial Fund.
That's Life!
That's Life! was a magazine-style television series on BBC1 between 26 May 1973 and 19 June 1994, presented by Esther Rantzen throughout the entire run, with various changes of co-presenters. The show was generally recorded about an hour prior to transmission, which was originally on Saturday...
after his parents appealed for more awareness of organ donation
Organ donation
Organ donation is the donation of biological tissue or an organ of the human body, from a living or dead person to a living recipient in need of a transplantation. Transplantable organs and tissues are removed in a surgical procedure following a determination, based on the donor's medical and...
when their son, who suffered from liver disease
Liver disease
Liver disease is a broad term describing any single number of diseases affecting the liver.-Diseases:* Hepatitis, inflammation of the liver, caused mainly by various viruses but also by some poisons , autoimmunity or hereditary conditions...
, urgently needed a transplant. Ben received his new liver at the age of two but he died in hospital soon afterwards, a few months after his third birthday.
In his memory, his family set up the Ben Hardwick Memorial Fund, which aimed to offer financial support to the families of children who suffer from primary liver disease. British celebrity Esther Rantzen
Esther Rantzen
Esther Louise Rantzen CBE is an English journalist and television presenter who is best known for presenting the BBC television series That's Life!, and for her work in various charitable causes. She is founder of the child protection charity ChildLine, and also advocates the work of the Burma...
, who hosted That's Life! and co-wrote a book based on Ben's story, was a trustee on the Fund's board. The Ben Hardwick Fund took over the work of the Ben Hardwick Fund in 1997. Esther Rantzen is patron of the present fund, which helps children suffering from primary liver disease with costs associated with their illness.
In 1985 Marti Webb
Marti Webb
Marti Webb is a musical actress from England, who appeared on stage in Evita, before starring in Andrew Lloyd Webber's one woman show Tell Me on a Sunday in 1980...
released as a tribute a cover version of the Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
song "Ben
Ben (song)
"Ben" is a song written by Don Black and composed by Walter Scharf for the 1972 film of the same name . It was performed in the film by Lee Montgomery and by Michael Jackson over the closing credits. Jackson's single, recorded for the Motown label in 1972, spent one week at the top of the U.S. pop...
", which reached number 5 in the UK charts, the royalties being donated to the Memorial Fund.