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Tag: charity

Welcome to Prof John Hickman

Prof John Hickman

Joining as a Scientific Trustee We are delighted to welcome Professor John Hickman to our Board of Trustees. John joins us as our Scientific Trustee, bringing with him a wealth of experience with which to guide our charity.  John was the ICI Professor of Molecular Pharmacology at the University of Manchester. After a postdoctoral fellowship […]

International Women’s Day

International Women's Day 2024

Today, 8 March, is International Women’s Day and to mark this special day, we’re celebrating the fantastic women behind Friends of Rosie.  As a volunteer led charity, we simply couldn’t do what we do without the support of our network of volunteers, Trustees, and scientific advisors. And so today, we want to shout out to […]

Coffee and marmalade raises £700!

Coffee and marmalade

Our kind supporters, Philip and Julia Hyde, recently held a coffee morning and marmalade sale in aid of Friends of Rosie. Thanks to the huge generosity of everyone who attended the event, an impressive £700 was raised in support of childhood cancer. Events like this really do make all the difference to the projects we […]

Big Give Christmas Challenge 2022 – 1 day to go!

Christmas Challenge 2022

Friends of Rosie has been selected to participate in the Big Give Christmas Challenge 2022, the UK’s largest match funding campaign. Last year, thanks to generous supporters like you, the campaign raised over £22 million for participating charities. Starting tomorrow, 29th November, we will be raising money to kickstart more vital children’s cancer research projects […]

Green token success thanks to Asda Altrincham

Asda green token

Our huge thanks to the Asda Foundation and customers at the Asda store in Altrincham for voting for Friends of Rosie in their Green Token Giving scheme. Thanks to your votes we’ve received a £300 donation from the Asda Foundation. Our special thanks also go to the Asda Community Champion, Catherine Massey, for all your […]

Marathon success for Lesley

Marathon

Our wonderful Trustee, Lesley Dowdall, set herself the challenge of running a marathon to raise money for children’s cancer research. Where better to undertake her challenge than the beautiful city of Barcelona? Lesley headed out to the sunny city to run the marathon on 7th November. Says Lesley, “It was an incredible experience! The atmosphere […]

Welcome to our new Trustees

New Trustees

In recognition of Trustees’ Week this week, we’re excited to welcome not one but two new Trustees to Friends of Rosie. Welcome Lesley Firstly, we welcome Lesley Dowdall. Lesley has over 20 years’ experience in fundraising and donor relations. She is Director of Development at Withington Girls’ School and previously served as Deputy Director of […]

Our thanks to Jennie Atherton

Jennifer Atherton BA

As we near the end of another Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, we would like to take a moment to recognise the huge contribution of our valued Trustee, Jennie Atherton. Jennie has been with Friends of Rosie since almost the beginning of the charity. This month, we are celebrating our 30th birthday as well as bidding […]

Using imaging data to reduce side effects

imaging data

Every penny donated to us matters. So, we want you to know how that money is being spent for the benefit of children with cancer. With that in mind, each month we share an update from one of our research teams so you can see the progress being made. All because of your support. We […]

Fundraising Trustee – we need you!

fundraising trustee

If you are an experienced fundraising trustee, we need your help. This is a volunteer position and we can guarantee you huge satisfaction and enjoyment. Plus the opportunity to make a real difference for children with cancer. We want to ensure that every penny donated to us is spent in the most effective way to […]

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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.