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Friends of

Tag: childrens cancer charity

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 […]

A challenging but positive CCAM

childhood cancer awareness month

2022 was a challenging but positive Childhood Cancer Awareness Month (CCAM). The sad death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II meant that many charities, like us, felt the need to pause some of our campaigning as a mark of respect during a period of national mourning. The news has also been dominated by the energy […]

New charity partner of Exchange Chambers

childhood cancer awareness month

Friends of Rosie has been selected as the charity partner for Exchange Chambers for the next two years. Exchange Chambers is an award-winning set of Barristers’ Chambers with 200 members and offices in Manchester, Liverpool and Leeds. The CEO at Exchange Chambers, Jonathan l’Anson, said, “Planning is already underway for several fundraising events, including a […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

Latest newsletter OUT NOW!

Annual newsletter out now

Please take a moment to read our latest newsletter, which is hot off the press. This issue includes: News of our brand new Guardian Giving Scheme Our latest research projects (we’re funding more research this year than ever before – thanks to you!) Stories from our amazing supporters. Friends of Rosie Newsletter Spring 2021 final […]

Our latest research project is underway

facial disfiguration

Covid won’t stop us in our fight for children with cancer! We’re delighted that our newest childhood cancer research project has now started, following some delays due to Covid restrictions. We caught up with the research team at The University of Manchester to find out more about them and their priorities for the first few […]

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.

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.