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Friends of

Tag: childhood cancer

Christmas concert for childhood cancer

Christmas concert

The talented Altrincham Concert Orchestra are holding a Christmas Concert on Saturday 11th December at 2pm with proceeds supporting childhood cancer research. The orchestra are holding the festive event  at the Altrincham United Reformed Church (Cecil Road, Hale, WA15 9NT). To get you in the mood for Christmas, they will play a mix of well […]

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 […]

Enter our 30th birthday raffle

30th birthday raffle

In celebration of our charity’s 30th birthday, we’re raffling off a whole host of fantastic prizes to raise vital funds for more children’s cancer research. All prizes have been donated by our wonderful supporters and you can be in with the chance to win one of these fabulous prizes by buying your tickets today. Guided […]

30th Birthday virtual event – Watch now!

30th birthday event

To celebrate our 30th birthday and to thank all of our wonderful supporters, we held a virtual event, on Tuesday 14th September, during childhood cancer awareness month. If you were unable to attend, you can watch the recording below. You’ll see videos from our fantastic Young Ambassadors, Ruth Grace and Daniel, sharing their experiences of […]

Get muddy for childhood cancer!

With many of us planning a staycation this summer, why not have fun and get muddy with the kids? Plus you can fundraise at the same time at a Lidl Mudder event. Lidl Mudder is a 1-mile course packed full of obstacles. It’s designed to give kids aged 5-12 the chance to work as a […]

Brownie superhero fundraiser

Brownie superhero fundraiser

We’re sending a huge thank you to eight year old Evie and her Brownie group for supporting Friends of Rosie with their Brownie superhero fundraiser. Evie has set up an art fundraiser asking the other Brownies to design their own child superhero. She is supporting Friends of Rosie is recognition of our Young Ambassador, Ruth […]

Cutting the ribbon at B&M Hulme

B&M

It was a fantastic start to the day today. We were up bright and early to help open the new B&M Store in Hulme High Street. Our wonderful Young Ambassador, Ruth Grace, was up early in the middle of her half term holiday to meet the B&M store team. After a tour of the fabulous […]

Ewing Sarcoma – Mahesh’s story

Mahesh Vara

Mahesh, from Bolton, was first diagnosed with Ewing Sarcoma when he was eight years old, in May 1998. His mum had become alarmed at a growth which appeared on his left thigh. The growth quickly engulfed his thigh. A family friend (also a GP) advised that the tumour should be removed. Only after it was […]

Ruth Grace – our Young Ambassador

Ruth Grace smiling

This Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, we’re delighted to introduce Ruth Grace Crosby as our first ever Friends of Rosie Young Ambassador. Ruth Grace was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer, when she was eight years old in October 2016. As a Friends of Rosie Young Ambassador, she’ll be supporting the charity in promoting […]

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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.