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from neuroblastoma, left "footprints on the heart" of the multi-millionairess author who read chapters of her then unpublished fourth book to the child over the phone.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."

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