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Alison Gaffney and Andy Hinde received devastating diagnosis in 2018 when their young son their baby was diagnosed with a rare type of leukaemia.

Two years of gruelling treatment ensued, comprising chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immune system treatments before a stem cell transplant. Fraser, by age three, made a “miraculous recovery” from the procedure, with physicians declaring the illness in regression.

As Fraser improved that Gaffney, aged thirty-six, began investigating causes. She could not stop thinking about remarks made by hospital staff at the time of her child's illness. “We lose sleep wondering how he got his cancer,” a doctor had told her.

“We're constantly wondering wondering how Fraser got his disease,” a specialist had told her.

Historical Context

The negligent management of enormous amounts of hazardous substances after the cessation of a major industrial facility in the town in 1979 had “widely acknowledged,” said Alison. A court ruling linked the local authority's mismanagement of the site to a cluster of congenital abnormalities in local children during the previous decades.

Over time, the concerned mother started to link the situation to her own. “[His illness] is not genetic,” she said. “So what are the reasons? … It’s got to be down to the community. Numerous young people [with] illness.

“Everybody in this town knows somebody who’s got a minor [with] illness. That’s not normal.”

Community Action

Alison and Andy started to reach out to more parents in their community with parallel situations – featuring some of Gaffney’s former classmates at a local school – and the organization began assembling detailed records on those impacted. They now spearhead a campaign supporting about many parents with situations of youth disease starting from 1988.

The collective has been calling on the municipal government to examine any relationships between cases of youth disease in Corby and the decommissioning of the industrial site. At the end of this month, health authorities are set to publish their study of whether the area has had a elevated incidence of instances of youth disease for its inhabitants of the local community.

“Our only goal is to work to secure subsequent residents so they won't experience the pain that we've endured,” said Alison.

Historical Context

The ruling in the legal case acknowledged that, between the 1980s and 1990s, enormous amounts of toxic substances from the industrial facility were relocated “typically” from the south of Corby to a designated site in the northern section – with “significant amounts” of contaminated substances transported and dropped on public roads and “large volumes” of airborne particles created by the cleanup.

However, it also cited findings from the Environment Agency in 1997 that found stockpiles of toxic substances that had been left at the site were later taken away in “substantial volumes”.

Growing Suspicions

Gaffney maintains contaminated materials was not only dumped at the main disposal area but in additional areas of the town. Recently, she welcomed a “major step forward” after North Northamptonshire council said it would analyze land that could be contaminated and research where contaminated substances was dumped.

Alison said government representatives acknowledged in the meeting that they did not know where the areas of hazardous substances could be. “They stated: ‘We're uncertain where these areas are. We have no documentation, we possess no information.’”

Public Endorsement

The official statement was also welcomed by Tonia Shalgosky, a educational worker at a local school, whose school-aged girl, her daughter, was diagnosed with leukaemia in the summer.

“I had to shave my little girl's hair because her hair was shedding from the treatments she had to administer to eliminate her disease. Consequently it’s in everyone's benefit, it’s in the child's wellbeing [for the council] to share that information,” she said.

“Numerous residents in the area that have been diagnosed with childhood cancer and It seems it’s impossible to overlook – it demands examination. This is unusual.”

Family Experiences

A community member, 31, who works in sales and now has moved away, said families deserved “absolute honesty and openness” from the council.

Her 11-year-old sister, Eve, passed away on 24 June 2017 after being confirmed to have a rare bone cancer at the age of nine. Her sister, who fundraised for cancer charities, was “exceptionally charming, entertaining and kindest” people, she stated.

Her parent remembers the effect of the cessation of the steel plant on the town, Lyons stated. “She said you were unable to place your palm in ahead of you because [of] the colored dust.”

“This has been going on since I was approximately about three years old. This duration is unreasonable and it is irresponsibility toward the local residents.”

Past Associations

A relative, a local resident, was among numerous families involved in the court proceeding against the then Corby council after her infant was born with a foot condition. Her partner, Derek, was among the lorry drivers involved in handling substances from the industrial site. Their situation was portrayed in a recent series, and showed Maggie beating the dust from her partner's pants.

The campaign leader said the collective has been reached out to by individuals with information who were participating in the disposal of substances in the area.