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Author: Helen Griffin

International Women’s Day

International Women's Day

Inspiring the next generation of medical researchers Every year on 8 March the world comes together to celebrate International Women’s Day, an occasion dedicated to honouring the achievements of women across all fields and raising awareness of the ongoing challenges they face. One of the most inspiring fields where women have made an indelible mark […]

Neuroblastoma progress – outcomes from our research symposium

Friends of Rosie, now known as the Children’s Cancer Research Fund (CCRF), runs an international research symposium in alternate years. In September 2024, over 40 people gathered together in Manchester for the two-day scientific events titled, Theragnostics for neuroblastoma: making molecular radiotherapy work better. Here our Scientific Advisory Board Chair, Dr Mark Gaze, shares a summary […]

New year, new name

The start of 2025 sees an important change for our charity and one which, as a valued supporter, we want to share with you. As Friends of Rosie, the children’s cancer research fund, we’ve been funding vital research into childhood cancers for more than 30 years. From today, Friends of Rosie will be known as […]

Jam sale raised over £800!

jam sale

In a heart-warming display of community spirit, a recent jam sale organised by Julia and Philip Hyde has successfully raised over £800 for children’s cancer research. The funds will be directed towards pioneering new research projects aimed at combating childhood cancer, offering hope and potential breakthroughs in treatment. Julia and Philip Hyde, the organisers of […]

Tatton Park 10k raises £4.5k!

tatton park 10k

Huge congratulations to our Tatton Park 10k team who recently completed the race around the beautiful Tatton Park all for children’s cancer research. Together, the team of nine runners raised just over £4,500! A massive well done to the whole team and our special thanks to our Trustee, Katrina London, who got the team together […]

Proton Beam Therapy project gets funding for second year

The Children’s Cancer Research Fund is funding a second year of a vital research project investigating the biology of protons used in Proton Beam Therapy (PBT) to treat sarcomas in children. This will bring the grant total for this project to £140,000. Here lead researcher, Dr Amy Chadwick, and Research Associate, Dr Emma Biglin, tell […]

Exchange Chambers raises almost £55k for Friends of Rosie

Exchange Chambers Chief Executive Jonathan I’Anson recently presented Friends of Rosie with a cheque for an incredible £54,786.00! Members and staff from Exchange Chambers have been fundraising for Friends of Rosie for the past two years.  As a result of Exchange’s efforts, we are now funding a second year of targeted research into Proton Beam […]

Neuroblastoma symposium this September

neuroblastoma research

As we build up to Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in September, we are busy finalising arrangements for our second international childhood cancer research symposium. Taking place on the 11 and 12 September in Manchester, we are bringing together a focused group of 50 clinicians and scientists to discuss how we can make molecular radiotherapy work […]

New National Biomarker Centre in Manchester

Tomorrow, 14 June, Professor Caroline Dive and her team, who led one of Friends of Rosie’s most recent research projects, are launching the new CRUK National Biomarker Centre at the University Manchester. Housed in the Paterson Building, the mission of the centre is to develop and test biomarkers in clinical trials that detect cancers earlier […]

Promising results for new blood test to detect Ewing Sarcoma

Ewing sarcoma

Promising results for new blood test to detect Ewing Sarcoma Over the past two years, Friends of Rosie has funded a £145,000 research project into the use of a revolutionary new blood test to diagnose Ewing Sarcoma, a rare type of bone cancer in children. Now complete, this pioneering new research has shown promising initial […]

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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.