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Friends of

Tag: childhood cancer charity

Pioneering research for children with head & neck cancers

facial disfiguration

Over the past 12 months, Friends of Rosie has funded research at The University of Manchester looking at ways to decrease the risk of facial disfiguration in children with cancers in the head and neck. Dr Marianne Aznar and her team have been looking at how we could enable ‘smarter’ radiation treatments, leading to a […]

Double your donations!

Big Give Christmas Challenge

Donate during our Big Give Christmas Challenge and your donation will be doubled! We’re very excited to let you know that 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 […]

Exchange Chambers charity ball

charity ball

Just one day to go until the Exchange Chambers charity ball in aid of the Friends of Rosie takes place on 3rd November 2022. We’re looking forward to raising lots for children’s cancer research tomorrow night and we’re honoured to be part of this fantastic event in Manchester. Our huge thanks to the wonderful team […]

Annual newsletter out now!

Newsletter out now

Every year we issue a printed annual newsletter to help keep all our supporters updated on charity activities. It’s really important to us that you know where your donations go and how we spend every penny. This annual newsletter gives you a summary round-up in one place. Click here to read the electronic version of […]

Outcomes of our international childhood cancer workshop

international childhood cancer workshop

Friends of Rosie brought together 40 of the world’s top researchers and clinicians from across the UK, Europe and North America. Together they discussed how better to target treatments for children with cancer. The international childhood cancer workshop was held in Manchester on the 8th and 9th of June 2022. It came less than two […]

Friends of Rosie to host international childhood cancer workshop

childhood cancer workshop

We are proud to tell you about our upcoming international childhood cancer research workshop. This important workshop will bring together 40 of the world’s top researchers and clinicians to discuss how better to target treatments for children with cancer. Childhood cancer is the biggest killer of children under 14 in the western world, yet it […]

Easter egg fundraising 2022

Easter egg winners

Wow, what an Easter of fundraising! Our huge thanks to everyone who hosted a Friends of Rosie Easter egg raffle this year for our Easter fundraising. Together you raised an eggcellent £3,500! This is an amazing effort, especially given that many people are currently also fundraising to support the Ukrainian humanitarian crisis. Thank you also […]

Research collaboration with Neuroblastoma UK

Neuroblastoma research

Friends of Rosie have partnered with Neuroblastoma UK to fund new research to improve treatment for children with advanced neuroblastoma. Neuroblastoma is a rare type of childhood cancer. Around 100 children are diagnosed with neuroblastoma every year in the UK. Children with aggressive high-risk neuroblastoma are treated with incredibly intensive drugs and invasive procedures that […]

Christmas cards

Christmas cards

If your thoughts are turning to Christmas, then we’re pleased to tell you that we’ve appointed a new charity Christmas cards company this year. You can buy your personalised Christmas cards or ecards for Christmas using Making A Difference Cards and help support Friends Of Rosie and children with cancer. Making A Difference take no […]

Our Young Ambassador on BBC News

Young Ambassador

Our Young Ambassador, Ruth Grace, recently appeared on BBC North West Tonight. Her appearance coincided with her return to school after almost four years in treatment. You can watch the programme here. Ruth Grace, from Manchester, was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer, when she was eight years old. She had a horrific […]

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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.