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Friends of

Category: Stories

Rosie’s story

Rosie Larkin

Rosie Larkin is the namesake of Friends of Rosie. She lost her battle with neuroblastoma in 1991 at the age of five years old. Rosie’s family and friends set up the charity during Rosie’s illness to help other children with cancer. Here is Rosie’s story: Neuroblastoma often starts in the tummy, commonly in the adrenal glands […]

Jessica’s story

Jessica Green

Jessica was diagnosed with DIPG ( a type of brain tumour) on 7th March 2011. Her mum, Lisa, shares her story to raise awareness for childhood brain tumour research. “Our Jessica was a beautiful, confident and happy little girl who lived her life to the full and had lots of friends. Life changed for Jessica […]

Emma’s story

childhood cancer research

Emma was diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare soft tissue cancer, in September 2013. Her mum, Tracey, shares Emma’s story and how it feels as a parent when your child is diagnosed with cancer. “When Emma was eight years old we went on holiday and I found a lump on her cheek when applying sun cream. […]

Gracie Greenwood’s story

On 1st May 2017, Gracie Greenwood lost her battle with cancer. She was just 20 months old. Her mum Lauren shares Gracie’s heartbreaking story to help raise more awareness for childhood cancer research. “Hi my name is Lauren and I’m Gracie’s mum. Gracie passed away on the 1st May after fighting a brain tumour. She […]

Lily’s story

Just after her 1st birthday, Lily was diagnosed with a soft tissue tumour. Her mum, Clair, shares Lily’s story and stresses the importance of childhood cancer research in helping to one day find a cure for children like Lily, so other families don’t have to go through such heartbreak. “Lily was born on 10th February […]

Joshua’s story

childhood brain tumours

Joshua McCormack died from a very rare brain tumour in January 2017. Brain tumours continue to cause more deaths than any other type of childhood cancer. His mum, Nicola, shares Joshua’s story with us to raise awareness of these rare types of cancer and the lack of research funding in the UK. “During Joshua’s gruelling […]

Gracie McCall’s story

Gracie McCall

Gracie McCall’s mum, Katie, shares Gracie’s story with us to highlight the vital need for more childhood cancer research, particularly for very rare types of cancer. “In January 2014, Gracie was diagnosed with a very rare and very aggressive brain tumour called Atypical Teratoid Rhabdoid Tumour (AT/RT). She was just two and a half years […]

Arthur’s story

Arthur was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) when he was just 16 months old. His mum, Katie, who is also a Friends of Rosie Parent Trustee, shares his story. “It’s hard to think how poorly he was when we were admitted into Ward 84 at the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital – he has come […]

George’s story

George’s mum, Gemma, shares George’s story to help raise awareness of the symptoms and effects of childhood cancer.  At the age of three, George was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. The only symptom he had was a pale rash on his face.  “After heading to hospital fearing meningitis, George underwent a series of blood tests. […]

Oscar’s story

Research priority areas

Raising awareness of childhood cancer is often just as important as raising money for more vital research. It’s a world unknown to so many and yet devastating to the few who do experience it. Lots of amazing parents and their even more amazing children have been kind enough to share their experiences of childhood cancer […]

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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.