The IBMS has been entrusted with running Harvey’s Gang laboratory tours to ensure many more young patients and members can benefit from the initiative. As the founder and IBMS member Malcolm Robinson and the Harvey’s Gang trustees have decided to wind down the charity, the IBMS is stepping in to become the new custodian.
The IBMS will now take on responsibility for running laboratory tours and will provide members with all they need to host a tour for children undergoing intensive treatment for severe diseases. The tours are beneficial for children who get an insight into their treatment, but also for laboratory staff who will have the opportunity to meet the patients whose names they have often seen attached to samples they are working to process and analyse.
Malcolm (pictured above with IBMS President Debra Padgett) commented: “The trustees and I are extremely grateful for the work that the IBMS has done with Harvey’s Gang over the past six years or so, we’ve built very close links and we were thrilled when they agreed to take over running the tours. When we talked with the IBMS, our vision for Harvey’s Gang fitted very well with what they had in mind.”
David Wells, IBMS Chief Executive added: “We were keen to make sure that the Harvey’s Gang initiative would not be lost. We can see that it adds real value to our organisation and to our members because they clearly enjoy the tours and showing children around their laboratories. In terms of engaging with the public, it’s also an excellent way of showing off the work that we all do.”
For more details about Harvey’s Gang, including how your laboratory can sign up to give young patients a tour of your workplace, please visit www.harveysgang.com.