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Friends of

Huge thanks to ZEAL Creative for supporting children’s cancer research

ZEAL CreativeWe are delighted to share our heartfelt thanks to ZEAL Creative, who have generously donated £5,000 to help drive forward vital research into childhood cancer. Their support comes at a pivotal moment for our charity, as we prepare to announce our newest research project this March – developing more effective and less damaging treatments for children facing cancer.

ZEAL Creative and our charity share something special: we were both born in Manchester. From those local beginnings, ZEAL has grown into a multi‑award‑winning brand and retail activation agency, known for their creativity, innovation, and commitment to making a positive impact. Their donation reflects those values in action, helping to accelerate research that has the power to transform children’s futures.

Stewart HiltonStewart Hilton, co-founder of ZEAL explained why the agency chose the Children’s Cancer Research Fund (CCRF) as the recipient for its annual charity donation:

“Children’s cancer research doesn’t get the support it deserves, especially when you consider the unthinkable impact that it has on the poor families that are touched by it.  The work that the Children’s Cancer Research Fund does to face into this problem every day by funding research designed to make a practical difference is incredible. This relatively small charity makes a big difference, their work is humbling and ZEAL is honoured to play a small part in one of their projects.” 

Their contribution will go directly towards our upcoming research project, supporting scientists and clinicians who are working to understand childhood cancers more deeply and develop kinder therapies with fewer long‑term side effects. Every breakthrough in this field brings us closer to a world where children not only survive cancer but thrive after treatment.

Felicity Goodey, Chair of the Board of Trustees, CCRF, says:

“We are incredibly grateful to ZEAL Creative for this generous gift. Their support will help us take a significant step forward in our mission to fund research that gives children with cancer the best possible chance of a healthy future. It’s inspiring to see a Manchester-born company championing work that began in the same city – and that continues to change lives across the UK.”

We are truly thankful to the team at ZEAL Creative for standing with us. Their generosity will help give children and families hope, not just for better treatments, but for brighter tomorrows.

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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.

Watch Story
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.