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Friends of

Author: Helen Griffin

Record-breaking Easter eggs

Easter egg winners

This year saw our fourth annual Easter egg raffle fundraiser smash the previous years’ fundraising totals. This Easter we were delighted to raise almost £4,000 thanks to the amazing support of businesses, schools and local communities in and around Manchester. The huge, handcrafted Easter eggs from Slattery chocolatiers in Bury certainly tempted lots of people […]

Running for research

Great Manchester Run

A team of wonderful fundraisers were out in force on Sunday 19 May at the SimplyHealth Great Manchester Run running for research. Running the half marathon for Friends of Rosie was Siobahn Lloyd, in memory of Gracie McCall. As a close friend of Gracie’s mum, Katie, Siobhan wanted to help raise more funds for research […]

Amelia’s communion fundraiser

Amelia Greig

Eight year old, Amelia Stimpson, and her family and friends are fundraising for childhood cancer research at Amelia’s upcoming holy communion. Following the communion, Amelia’s family and friends are hosting a fundraising party in memory of five year old, Gracie McCall. Gracie lost her battle with a rare brain tumour two years ago. Gracie and […]

Join our Friends of Rosie ‘Go Gold Group’

Go Gold Group

We’re looking for willing volunteers in and around Hale and Altrincham to join a new ‘Go Gold Group’ in support of the Friends of Rosie Children’s Cancer Research Fund. As some of you may already know, gold is the official colour for childhood cancer awareness. And September is the recognised global awareness month. The idea […]

Current research priority areas

Research priority areas

At the start of a new research grant call, the Friends of Rosie Scientific Advisory Board recommends current research priority areas for funding. This does not exclude applications in other areas. Our current research priority areas for 2020/21 are: Methods to rapidly screen  and sequence tumours to identify targetable mutations and activated pathways, including detection […]

Friends of Rosie’s Scientific Advisory Board

Scientific Advisory Board

All funding applications are reviewed by our independent Scientific Advisory Board, who make recommendations as to which projects are the most promising and should receive our funding. Name Occupation and organisation Date of appointment to the committee Professor John Hickman Retired consultant (Paris) January 2017- Professor Deborah Tweddle Professor of Paediatric Oncology (Newcastle) April 2017- […]

Friends of Rosie Research Strategy

parent trustee

Our research strategy – why we fund research into childhood cancer Our aims, objectives and priorities Friends of Rosie’s research strategy aims focus on providing “pump-priming” funds of one or two years to research and clinical investigators who are addressing paediatric cancers. The goal is to provide funds that will lever major longer-term funding from […]

Research grant applications now open

Research grant applications

Thanks to our wonderful supporters and fundraisers, we are now able to invite new research grant applications for 2019. We invite academic and hospital-based research staff in the North West to apply for  “pump priming” childhood cancer research grants. We are particularly interested to receive applications for projects on solid tumours. The aim of our […]

Hundreds raised thanks to Altrincham FC

Altrincham FC

Huge thanks to Altrincham FC and all your supporters and away fans for donating a total of £334.24 during the home game on Saturday 19th January. Congratulations also on your 1-0 win against Southport. We were made to feel very welcome by the club and supporters and are very grateful for the opportunity to be […]

Positive preliminary results for brain tumour project

Scientific Advisory Board

For the past 18 months, Friends of Rosie has funded a cutting-edge research project to improve treatment options for children with incurable brain tumours. As it moves into its final research phase, we can share some of the positive preliminary results in using immunotherapy to shrink or destroy brain tumours in children. The Friends of […]

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Helen Griffin
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07887 932293

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Nancy Dykes

Nancy Dykes

Nancy, 11, was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma when she was just 2 years old. She was treated with Proton Beam Therapy (PBT) in Germany but unfortunately relapsed less than a year later. The family were then sent to Germany for a second round of PBT. Although treatment helped to cure Nancy’s cancer, she has been left with lots of lasting effects which will require ongoing treatment throughout her life. Here Nancy and her mum, Antonia, share their story in the hope it will help others, raise awareness, and raise more money for children’s cancer research.

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Prof John Hickman

Prof John Hickman

Why I am a Trustee of CCRF
 
I am a relative of the Larkin family and knew Rosie Larkin ( Friends of Rosie, now CCRF) when she had and then died of neuroblastoma, aged six. At that time, I was a scientist and professor at Manchester University, actively working on the problem of why some cancers do not die despite intensive and toxic therapies.  Seeing Rosie during her unsuccessful therapy and then attending her funeral, besides being emotional, drove me to double down on my own research as well as to support the Charity as best I could as a cancer researcher. I spent over a decade as the Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Board of the CCRF, when the Board moulded policies to ensure that funds raised for research into childhood cancers were distributed only to clinicians and researchers who had the brightest ideas that could impact of cancer medicine for children.
 
My role on the Board
 
As a Trustee,  I hope that my many decades of experience in cancer research and medicine can help the CCRF determine where best the funds that are raised can be invested in cutting edge research and medicine. I am also keen that the CCRF brings together UK and international experts in science and cancer medicine to brainstorm on how best to advance the treatment of childhood cancers.
 
My Background
 
I was a Professor of Pharmacology at Manchester University, working on drug resistance in cancer. I then moved to Paris, where I still live, to head cancer drug discovery at a French pharmaceutical company (Servier). I then headed an EU consortium for six years that brought together researchers from the pharmaceutical industry, universities and biotechnology companies, from all over Europe and the UK, to improve cancer drug discovery. I continue to be active in cancer health policy, publishing in the medical literature.
Katrina

Katrina London

Why I am a Trustee of CCRF

I have spent my professional career representing individuals and families affected by the devastating asbestos-related cancer, mesothelioma, which has no cure and for which there are only a limited number of palliative treatments available on the NHS.

I joined CCRF because I wanted to bring my understanding of the need to raise awareness of less well known cancers and passion for the need to secure improved funding for research to children facing a cancer diagnosis.

My role on the Board

I am responsible for oversight of our collaboration agreements with other charities to co-fund research into cures and treatments for childhood cancers. I also manage our challenge events and help with community fundraising. 

My Background

I am a Senior Associate at Irwin Mitchell LLP and specialise in Asbestos Disease Litigation, acting on behalf of victims of asbestos related diseases and their families.  Over the years, I have undertaken a number of fundraising challenges to raise money for cancer research, including a 1000 mile cycle ride from Glasgow to Southampton.   

Carla

Carla Nuttall

Why I’m a Trustee of CCRF
 
I became a trustee of the Children’s Cancer Research Fund because I believe every child deserves the chance to grow up healthy and with everything to look forward to in life. Like many people, I’ve seen the impact cancer can have on families and I wanted to do something that could make a real difference. This started through my work as an ambassador for Cyclists Fighting Cancer, which supported young people and their families in finding strength, confidence, and joy through movement.
 
That experience shaped my understanding of the challenges families face and the importance of community-led support – but crucially, the clear need for that to go hand-in-hand with targeted research and long-term solutions.
 
This is why I’m so passionate about the work CCRF does and proud to contribute to a cause that gives children and their families, the greatest chance of living a life without limits.
 
My Role on the Board
 
I support CCRF’s mission by bringing my experience in brand, marketing, and communications to the board. My focus is on helping CCRF tell its story in a way that resonates with people – whether that’s families, researchers, donors, or the wider public. I work alongside an incredible team to strengthen CCRF’s voice, build trust, and grow awareness so that more children and families can benefit from the breakthroughs we’re helping to fund.
 
My Background
 
I’m the Executive Director of Corporate Affairs and Marketing for The Growth Company, a social enterprise dedicated to helping people, businesses, and places to thrive through its market-leading insight, employment, skills and business support.
My passion is to help the organisations I work with to communicate with clarity, purpose, and integrity. That’s why I’ve spent my career in strategic communications supporting organisations that want to make a positive difference – CCRF could not fit my sense of purpose any better.