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Author: Helen Griffin

Thank you to the Rolls Royce Social Committee

Rolls Royce

As we step into a new year, we want to shine a well‑deserved spotlight on a group of people who’ve made a real difference over the past year. In 2025, the Rolls Royce 9001 Social Committee became part of our story by choosing the Children’s Cancer Research Fund as their charity. Their Easter and Christmas […]

First ACCR Paediatric Cancer Progress Report

The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) has published its first-ever Paediatric Cancer Progress Report. Decades of research and collaboration have transformed the outlook for cancers affecting children. In the United States, the overall 5-year survival rate for paediatric cancers has risen from 63% in the mid-1970s to 87% in 2015–2021. Mortality has declined by […]

A Christmas Party to remember

Children's cancer christmas party

On Saturday 6 December, we joined forces with another local charity, Holly’s Hearts, to together host a magical Christmas party for children undergoing cancer treatment at The Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital. It was a rare and joyful break from treatment for these children and their families – a day filled with festive fun, laughter, and love. […]

Christmas Bauble Fundraiser

🎄 Swap Christmas Cards for kindness: Pick a Bauble, Make a Difference This Christmas, we’re inviting businesses, schools, doctor’s surgeries, dental practices, vets, and community groups to do something truly meaningful. Instead of sending Christmas cards to colleagues, clients, or neighbouring teams, why not pick a bauble and make a donation to support children with […]

Thank you to two tremendous Trusts

We are deeply grateful to The Shears Foundation and The Frank Litchfield Charitable Trust for their generous support of our work through recent grants to the Children’s Cancer Research Fund. Their commitment to improving the lives of children and families affected by cancer enables us to fund pioneering research and offer hope where it’s needed most. These contributions make […]

Our new corporate partner – Bruntwood SciTech

Bruntwood SciTech

Bruntwood SciTech chooses CCRF as their new charity partner We’re delighted to be chosen as the charity partner for Bruntwood SciTech, across their Manchester Science Park and Citylab campus. Bruntwood SciTech offer premium office and lab space, a range of scientific services, and specialist business support, to companies in the science and technology sectors, helping […]

Leave a legacy of hope this September

leave a legacy

Remember a Charity Week This week marks Remember a Charity Week (8–14 September), a national campaign celebrating the incredible impact of gifts left to charities in Wills. It’s a moment to reflect on the causes close to our hearts and to consider how we can make a lasting difference beyond our lifetime. September is also […]

Active Altrincham Month

Active Altrincham

This September comes the launch of Active Altrincham – a month-long campaign inspiring the Altrincham community to get moving for good. In collaboration with Altrincham BID, we are supporting Active Altrincham throughout September. Whether you’re walking, running, cycling, or dancing, every step taken this month helps promote physical activity, while also raising vital funds for […]

Altrincham 10k success

Altrincham 10k

What a day at the Altrincham 10K yesterday! The town was buzzing with energy as thousands of runners took to the streets for this incredible closed-road event, and we were thrilled to be part of it. A massive THANK YOU to the amazing team from Slater Heelis – Hannah, Morgan and Tom – who laced […]

Cycling challenge at sea

cycling challenge at sea

Sometimes our amazing fundraisers come from some unique places, none so much as the international crew of a 60m luxury motor yacht in the Med! Last month, we were contacted by the crew of the Lusine who wanted to do something to help children with cancer. And so they set themselves a one-month cycling challenge […]

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Helen Griffin
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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.