About us
Our aim is to provide practical advice and support, create a sense of community among affected families and to promote research of benefit to people suffering from LFS.
Our story.
The TP53 Trust was established by the family of George Pantziarka, who suffered from Li Fraumeni Syndrome (LFS), and who died in on 25th April 2011 after suffering from his third cancer. It was only after George had been diagnosed with his third cancer that he was gene tested and found to a mutated TP53 tumour suppressor gene.
The George Pantziarka TP53 Trust is the UK’s only charity dedicated to supporting individuals and families suffering from LFS or related conditions (such as Li Fraumeni-like Syndrome).
You can read more of George’s story here.
How we started.
The Trust was established by the family of George Pantziarka, who suffered from Li Fraumeni Syndrome (LFS), and who died on 25th April 2011 after suffering from his third cancer.
It was only after George had been diagnosed with his third cancer that he was tested and found to be suffering from LFS. It is currently the only organisation devoted to LFS and related conditions in the UK.
We feel that more needs to be done to help people with LFS:
Increase understanding of the condition among sufferers and their families
To support individuals and families with the condition
To support increase awareness of the condition among doctors and to increase the rate of TP53 testing for individuals and families with the condition
To promote research into the condition and to look for treatments
To foster a feeling of community and to end the isolation that currently exists amongst sufferers and their families
Meet the Team
Pan Pantziarka
Pan Pantziarka is co-founder and Chairman of the George Pantziarka TP53 Trust. Pan lost his first wife, Gina, and son, George, to cancers related to LFS.
The Trust was founded in George’s memory and to support other families affected by the same condition. He is a scientist working at the Anticancer Fund (ACF), Belgium, where he is the coordinator of the Repurposing Drugs in Oncology project.
Irene Pantziarka
Irene Pantziarka is co-founder and Vice Chair of the George Pantziarka TP53 Trust. She was also George’s stepmum. Coming from a background in performing arts and education, she is now a writer and housewife. She is the author of ‘For the Love of George’ (using her professional name of Irene Kappes), in which she tells the story of George and his family’s struggle against cancer.
Natasha Bramble
Natasha Bramble was invited to become a trustee in 2012, primarily to provide financial expertise and advice, and ensure compliance with charity legislation. She is an accountant with many years’ experience in both the private and public sectors. Natasha has been friends with the Pantziarka family for many years, since her youngest son, Max, became great friends with Louis, George’s younger brother, when they met at school
Gillian Winskell
Gillian Winskell has been a trustee, serving as Secretary, since the end of 2012. She has a degree in Chemistry and German and has had a variety of jobs including working for Procter and Gamble and the Embassy of Finland, as well as in translation and education. She currently works as a school science technician.
Elizabeth Sam
Elizabeth has been an active trustee since December 2017. She has a law degree and is training to be a solicitor.
Stephanie Phillips
Steph was invited to become a trustee in December 2022 having first made contact with the charity in 2020 when both her daughters were diagnosed with LFS. She works as a Head of HR in the private sector, has a BSc (Hons) in Business Management and is a Fellow of the CIPD. Passionate about patient advocacy and information, she is the Patient and Public Representative for the All Wales Paediatric Cancer Predisposition Clinic.