Ben Hardwick

Benjamin Hardwick (6 December 1981 - 23 March 1985) 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 afterward, a couple of months after his third birthday.

In his memory, his family set up the Ben Hardwick Memorial Fund, which aims to offer financial support to the families of children who suffer from primary liver disease. [cite web | author=Patient UK | title=Ben Hardwick Fund | date=2006-09-01 | url=http://www.patient.co.uk/showdoc/26739767/ | accessdate=2007-02-02 ] British celebrity Esther Rantzen, who hosted 'That's Life' and co-wrote a book based on Ben's story, is a trustee on the Fund's board. [cite web | author=Patients' Voice for Medical Advance | title=Celebrity support for Patients' Voice | date=2006-05-01 | url=http://www.simr.org.uk/pages/celebrity_support/esther_rantzen.html | accessdate=2007-02-02 ]

In 1985 Marti Webb released as a tribute a cover version of the Michael Jackson song "Ben", which reached #5 in the UK charts, the royalties being donated to the Memorial Fund.

Footnotes

External links

* [http://www.guide-information.org.uk/guidelist.aspx?recid=G30146 Ben Hardwick Fund information site]