JK's magical donation

  December 22, 2003 at 8:36 PM ET
  Geri     The Scotsman
 

A surprise Christmas gift from Harry Potter creator JK Rowling is helping to brightenopens in new window the lives of hundreds of American children suffering from cancer.

Rowling has given a grant of £57,000 ($100,516) to the Dana-Farber Institute opens in new window in the name of Catie Hoch, a child she befriended while writing Goblet of Fire. The plight of nine-year-old Catie Hoch, who died after suffering from neuroblastoma, left "footprints on the heart" of the multi-millionairess author who read chapters of her then unpublished fourth book to the child over the phone.

The girl’s mother, Gina Peca, from Albany in New York said the Edinburgh-based author would always be special to her family.

"Jo holds a special place in my heart - she was there in such a generous and personal way for Catie. With Jo’s help my goal now is to raise enough money to fund a specialist in Catie’s name, and in her honour, to help other children like her" she said.

She added: "Through Jo’s donation people recognise the name and they are very willing to help us, and be generous in whatever we are asking for."

  2,944 views
  64 comments

Browse Related Stories