Welcome
As always, we want to express our gratitude to everyone who has supported cancer care at UCLH. Your generosity and kindness make a life-changing difference to people with cancer when they need it most. Whether you joined us at an event, set up a regular donation, or pledged a gift in your will, it has all had an incredible impact this year – in particular, with your support we reached our fundraising target of £150,000 for our Children’s Cancer Appeal! Earlier this year we welcomed the new National Cancer Plan for England. Published by the Department of Health and Social Care, it sets out a bold, long-term approach to improving cancer outcomes, experience and equity over the next decade. Shaped by lived experience, the Plan focuses on earlier diagnosis, improved performance, better quality of life and reducing inequalities. The central ambition is that by 2035, three in four people diagnosed with cancer will be cancer-free, or living well with cancer after five years, delivering the fastest improvement in cancer survival this century. The UCLH Charity Cancer Fund is looking forward to supporting University College London Hospitals to make this a reality.
The Cancer Fund team
Children's Radiotherapy Appeal: You did it!
Helping to make cancer treatment better for children
We are immensely grateful to everyone who contributed to our Children’s Radiotherapy Appeal. Thanks to you, we reached our £150,000 target and are on track to begin refurbishing the radiotherapy unit. Work will soon begin to transform the space into a welcoming, calming environment where children and their families can feel more at ease and better able to cope with treatment. With special thanks to the Woerner-Peacock Family, the Cecil Rosen Foundation, the Morrisons Foundation, and AKO Capital, for their tremendous generosity, and to everyone whose donations have made this campaign such a success. We would also like to thank Cody and his mum, Shona, for allowing us to share their story and feature in our campaign imagery. We celebrated this milestone alongside our wonderful Radiotherapy team, whose support has been invaluable — we truly couldn’t have done it without them. With special thanks to consultants Yen-Ching and Jenny, paediatric specialist radiographers Cathy and Kathryn, and pretreat radiographers Ollie, Orla, Rachel and Marella, who raised over £5,600 for the appeal by completing a Tough Mudder challenge event!
Planning for the project is now well underway. Thanks to the appeal’s success, we are also exploring the possibility of expanding the refurbishment to include the Teenage and Young Adult treatment recovery room. As a result, we are continuing to welcome donations to help us go even further. The appeal has also inspired an additional project - our most ambitious to date - which will support teenagers being treated at our pioneering Cancer Centre during some of the most challenging times of their lives. We look forward to sharing more about this later in the year, and of course keeping you updated on the children’s radiotherapy refurbishment. If you would like to get involved, there is still time to donate. Find out more and support the appeal at uclhcancerfund.org.uk/appeals/childrens-cancer
A 10 Year Journey: Jimmy finishes treatment
You may remember our incredible fundraiser, Jimmy, who ran the London Marathon for us in 2023. He was one of only two participants to complete the race as a transtibial runner, finishing in 05:03:03 and raising over £11,000. Jimmy was first diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma in September 2015, which led to a below-the-knee amputation followed by many months of treatment. Like many people living with cancer, he was then required to attend regular monitoring and check-ups for ten years. Recently, he made his final visit to the Cancer Centre, where he received his ‘all clear’ – we met with Jimmy and his partner Charlotte when he came for his appointment: "It is an amazing feeling getting the 'all clear' having been treated and monitored for the past 10 years post diagnosis and leg amputation. It has been quite a journey and at every stage I was always up for the fight. My ways of fighting back have been through doing the various events I did before I lost a limb. One of those was running the marathon in 2023 (having done four with two legs). It was one of the final ticks in the box for me and, albeit a challenging experience, it was a very fulfilling one. It's not every day you run a marathon with a blade! 10 years sounds like a long time, but in a way it has gone quickly. It has not been an easy journey and tested me mentally and physically, but I have always maintained a positive outlook on life and am grateful for the support from all those around me. Everything that has happened defines you as a person and it's not so much of what I have lost, but what I have gained which is strength, perspective and gratitude." We are absolutely delighted for Jimmy and his family - to mark this significant milestone, Jimmy is once again fundraising for us and celebrating the end of his check-ups and visits to our cancer centre with a special family party, bringing together loved ones and friends as he turns the page on this chapter.
How you make a difference
Thanks to the extraordinary support of our donors the Cancer Fund raised a record-breaking £430,000 - an increase of 107% compared to last year. We are deeply grateful for every donation entrusted to us, and proud to channel that support directly into enhancing cancer services that support patients at UCLH. This year, we invested more into patient care than ever before. From simple comforts like snacks and creative activities that bring moments of relief during treatment, to significant refurbishments that improve patient spaces, your support helps us to create environments that feel less clinical, and support our staff in providing world-class cancer care. We also funded treatment enhancing equipment including scalp cooling units to help patients preserve their hair, specialist chemotherapy treatment chairs for teenagers, and sleeper chairs so loved ones can stay close when it matters most. At the same time, we continued to invest in the people who make care possible. By supporting training and development across the cancer division, we are helping staff build their expertise, grow in confidence, and deliver the very best care to every patient who walks through the door. None of this would be possible without the generosity of our supporters. At a time when giving is not always easy, your commitment is helping to transform the experience of cancer care - today and for the future.
Our funding
- Funding for staff dedicated to supporting Teenagers and Young Adults through their treatment – equivalent to 2.5 full time posts
- UCLH Cancer Conference 2026
- Conferences celebrating milestones in the Head and Neck service, and the 10th anniversary of UCH at Westmoreland Street
- Complementary Therapy for Teenagers and Young adults
- Equipment including new chemotherapy treatment chairs, physiotherapy aids for rehabilitation, yoga equipment, a new drug storage fridge, and nebulisers
- Refurbishments including furniture for our new quiet room and hospital gardens, storage, staff lockers
- Staff training and conferences, as well as team building events and study days
- Snack and hydration trolleys for patients across the hospitals, and chewing gum for post-operative patients to aid recovery
- Support group supplies for adults receiving Proton Bean Therapy, and Health and Wellbeing Events
- Walking Football with Arsenal in the Community, for patients being treated for prostate cancer
- Wellbeing activities for patients, and the ‘bell ringing’ celebratory experience for children who hit milestones in their treatment
“The nebulisers have been amazing for my patients going through head and neck radiotherapy, making a real day‑to‑day difference when they need it most. We’re incredibly thankful for this support – it genuinely improves our patients’ comfort and overall experience during a really tough time.” Jon Earley, Lead Oncology Head and Neck Clinical Nurse Specialist
“Huge thank you to the Cancer Fund for providing refreshments during our "Urology-Thoracic Cross-Training" study day. This initiative was designed to upskill our Westmoreland inpatient staff, ensuring we are better equipped to support one another across departments.” Oh Manguilimotan, Surgical Specialties Division Lead Clinical Practice Facilitator
We are also looking forward to funding:
- New support group for men with prostate cancer who are deaf or blind, with a research project set to investigate how to improve support for these patients.
- Support for the bowel cancer screening team, to help them reach and engage more people to get tested earlier
Sign up for our e-newsletter to keep up to date at www.uclhcancerfund.org.uk/newsletter
Fantastic Fundraisers
“I’ve been inspired to take on this challenge because we’ve been rocked by how cancer has affected us, and I can only imagine how much this feeling magnifies given how many people live with and fight cancer every day. If I can raise money to eradicate it, I will try my best to do so.” Gurdas Singh “UCLH looked after my grandad when he was going through treatment, an amazing team!” Jade Burnett - Jade's Grandad, John, also raised an incredible £2,000 with his fellow golfers at Cheshunt Golf Club.
“Running isn’t just a personal challenge for me but also my way of giving back to a cause that means so much, both personally and professionally.” Jomar Sombillo, UCLH Clinical Nurse Specialist "I’m running for a special cause supporting the hospital who have supported my family and cousin; through his cancer diagnosis and treatment." Jo Strudwick - Jo’s cousin Alfie was diagnosed with bone cancer in 2025, after a 10cm tumour was found on his knee, "I had to have 30 weeks of chemo and also surgery on my knee to have the bone removed and a false knee put in. To say this was the toughest time of my life not only mine but also my families, but thanks to the wonderful team at UCLH and Stanmore hospitals, they got me through it."
You don’t have to take on a marathon to join our wonderful community of fundraisers – one young person who has been having radiotherapy at UCLH has put her sewing skills to use, hand-making over 500 scrunchies and selling them across the hospital. She has raised an incredible £3,085 so far, which will go directly towards our children’s radiotherapy appeal, updating the unit for the hundreds of young people who are treated there each year.
A Shakespearean Marathon
By Ali Dunks
“This year has been hugely challenging. In the spring my husband, Phil, was diagnosed with an aggressive form of oesophageal cancer. Already living with heart failure and having undergone major cancer treatment in his 20’s, the initial prognosis was devastating - we were told there were no treatment options available. I couldn’t accept that. After diving into medical research, I came across an academic paper suggesting that Proton Beam Therapy might be a possible treatment. My search led me to the extraordinary Dr. Doug Brand, a consultant oncologist at UCLH who specialises in this innovative therapy. Dr. Brand offered both hope and realism, taking Phil under his wing and securing NHS national approval for a five-week course of Proton Beam Therapy and chemotherapy. During this time, UCLH provided us with comfortable patient accommodation - something that was absolutely transformational, as Phil simply wouldn’t have been well enough to travel back and forth from home each day. So, I want to give something back - to help others benefit from the care, compassion and innovation. Choosing the Shakespeare Marathon felt perfect. I spent my teenage years in the village where Shakespeare’s mother lived and went to school in Stratford-upon-Avon. Back then, I played roles in several Shakespeare plays, including Titania, the Queen of the Fairies in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”. Funds raised will go to UCLH Cancer Fund and I’m hoping that they can support Dr. Brand’s efforts to purchase a new type of breathing machine used alongside Proton Beam Therapy - a piece of tech that could make this cutting-edge treatment even more precise and effective for future patients. This run will represent gratitude, love and rebellious hope - for Phil, for everyone affected by cancer and for the brilliant people at UCLH who make such a difference. In the Bard’s words (or Barry White’s!! “Let it play on”….. Let's not forget that the real champion here is Phil -who endured a massive amount of gruelling treatment last year, not to mention the mental toll of his diagnosis. And he is still here - that is proper endurance! I'm so happy to say that I did it (and, astonishingly, came 1st in my age category).” Ali Dunks
Penzance to London
Janet Forgenie, Uro-oncology CNS Lead, and Dr Matt Fittall, Clinical Oncologist, recently took on an epic 3-day cycle, covering 350 miles from Penzance to London. Supported by friends Zillah Byng-Thorn and Chris Taylor, the team have raised over £7,600 to support treatment and research into prostate, bladder and penile cancer at UCLH. Both Matt and Janet have worked with prostate cancer patients for many years and appreciate the difficulties this group of patients must go through every day. The benefit of exercise when having treatment for prostate cancer is well recognised. By embarking on this cycle, they hope to raise awareness and some much-needed funds to support research into new treatments. If you would like to support their fundraising, please donate at justgiving.com/page/janet-forgenie-1
Join the team!
Whatever your pace, we'll be here to support you
UCLH Charity Abseil - 27th June London 10k - 12th July Snowdon at Night - 29-30th August Thames Path Ultra Challenge - 12-13th September Swim Serpentine - 19th September Royal Parks Half Marathon - 11th October London Halloween Walk - 31st October Santa in the City fun run - 8th, 9th, 10th December London Landmarks Half Marathon - 4th April 2027 Hackney Half Marathon - 16th May 2027
Empowering innovation
UCLH clinicians share lessons from global cancer conferences, supported by your donations. Conferences are a cornerstone of professional development, and essential for staff to both present their research to national and international audiences, and to learn from other experts in their fields.
Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group Conference 2026
Gabriel Tang, Senior Specialist Rotational Occupational Therapist, says presenting his project at CCLG “has supported a greater emphasis on child-led, play-based interventions, family-centred goal setting, and more structured approaches to routine building. This has enhanced the quality of care by ensuring interventions are more responsive to each child’s needs, preferences, and stage of treatment.” Isobel MacCallum, Team Lead Physiotherapist, and Paddy Wilkins, Rotational Physiotherapist, also attended the conference: “The conferences enhanced my knowledge and I was also able to connect with other physiotherapists and occupational therapists from referring centres [for Proton Beam Therapy], which has strengthened professional relationships and improved communication. This will contribute to morecoordinated, patient-centred care and more effective education for patients and families.” Isobel “It was wonderful to attend a research conference as well as to present my poster. I would not have had this opportunity without support from UCLH Cancer fund! This opportunity has given me valuable skills to improve my knowledge and understanding of research in healthcare. I hope this will improve patient experience when receiving radiotherapy.” Paddy
International Society of Paediatric Oncology (SIOP) Annual Congress
“The UCLH Cancer Fund grant enabled me to present at the International Society of Paediatric Oncology (SIOP) Annual Congress in Amsterdam. This was a significant milestone for my project, providing a platform to share findings from my systematic review examining neuropsychological profiles in children and young people with medulloblastoma following proton beam therapy. Attending SIOP allowed me to engage with leading international researchers and clinicians, receive feedback on the review’s methodology and scope, and position our work within the broader global evidence base. I am really grateful to the Cancer Fund for making this possible, it was an opportunity I would not otherwise have been able to access at this stage of my career. It has also strengthened my commitment to pursuing this research area further, a direction that would not feel as tangible without the professional confidence this experience has helped build.” Harriet Moore, Assistant Psychologist
UK Association of Supportive Care in Cancer Conference
“Attending the conference enabled me to listen to talks about different topics that were relevant to my clinical role and taught me things that I could then take back to clinical practice. It also gave me more research experience as attending the conference gave me the opportunity to create a research poster for the presentation part of the conference.” Lucy Billington, Clinical Nurse Specialist - Enhanced Supportive Care Team
Make a lasting impact with a regular donation
To support UCLH’s cancer services, please consider setting up a regular donation. Regular donations make a huge difference; they allow us to plan with confidence, making sure your gift goes where it is needed most, from life-changing research to improving patient care. To set up a regular donation, or give a one-off gift, visit: uclhcancerfund.org.uk/donate Our thanks to everyone who has already set up a monthly donation to the Cancer Fund – your support is invaluable.
UCLH Cancer Conference 2026
Olivia Armitage - Project Manager, Cancer Academy
Earlier this year over 150 cancer professionals from across UCLH came together for a thought-provoking day showcasing digital innovation and collaboration, generously co-funded by UCLH Cancer Fund. The theme for this year’s event, “Transforming Cancer Care at UCLH: Innovation in the Context of the NHS 10‑Year Plan”, set the tone for a day filled with strategic insight, inspiring discussion, and ground-breaking developments shaping the future of cancer care. Attendees spanning clinical, academic, operational, and digital disciplines explored how UCLH is advancing personalised, data‑driven cancer care through innovation and collaboration in the context of the NHS 10 Year plan. The day reinforced UCLH’s position as a leader in digital innovation and its commitment to delivering world‑class, personalised cancer care aligned with national priorities. A huge thank you to all speakers, contributors, and attendees for helping drive the future of cancer care.
Hydrating for Health
“Staying well hydrated after major urological surgery is an important part of recovery, particularly for patients who have undergone robotic assisted radical prostatectomy (RALP) or cystectomy. Adequate fluid intake helps support kidney function, reduces the risk of urinary complications, and can contribute to overall well-being during the early stages of recovery at home. However, once patients leave the hospital, maintaining good hydration can sometimes be overlooked as they focus on other aspects of recovery. To support our patients during this transition, we launched a small quality-improvement initiative to encourage regular fluid intake after discharge. With the generous support of the UCLH Cancer Fund, we are providing reusable water bottles to patients undergoing RALP and cystectomy. The bottles are given to patients before discharge as a simple but practical reminder to stay hydrated and to help them monitor their daily fluid intake while recovering at home. Patients who were contacted said it helps them to monitor their daily intake. We are grateful to the Cancer Fund charity for sponsoring this project and helping us introduce a small intervention that can make a meaningful difference to patients’ recovery experience.” Pamela Nwangwu, UCLH Lead Surgical Care Practitioner, Uro-Oncology and Robotics
“The bottle has been one of the most important tools in my recovery kit - possibly the most important one. It has been incredibly useful in terms of ensuring I drank enough fluid when I got home and continues to be indispensable now that my catheter has been removed, and I head towards the next stage of my recovery.” UCLH patient
We also fund a hydration trolley, which visits patients on the wards.
“I like to think that I did not only give patients drinks and books, I also provided them with compassionate care. By treating every patient as an individual, giving them full attention and non-judgmental ear when they needed to talk or feeling isolated. Even offering them a cup of tea, coffee, or hot chocolate, that cheers them up a lot. I noticed that patients feel comforted when they experience compassionate and attentive care.” Nomonde, UCLH Volunteer for Westmoreland Street Hydration Trolley
Have you considered leaving a gift to charity in your will?
Around 1 in 5 of the projects we fund are made possible by gifts we receive in wills.
By including a gift for UCLH Charity Cancer Fund in your will, you can help us to fund life-changing research, state-of-the-art equipment, and transformative projects at UCLH - with national impact for cancer care.
By leaving a gift of a percentage of your estate (the total value of everything you own), or a specific amount, you can play a vital role in shaping the future of cancer care and research. A gift of any size will enhance care for people with cancer for years to come.
If you would like more information about leaving a gift in your will, please get in touch with David (Fundraising Manager) at david.milsom1@nhs.net, call on 07977 191780 or visit our website uclhcancerfund.org.uk/leave-a-legacy
- Welcome
- Children's Radiotherapy Appeal: You did it!
- A 10 Year Journey: Jimmy finishes treatment
- How you make a difference
- Fantastic Fundraisers
- Join the team!
- Empowering innovation
- UK Association of Supportive Care in Cancer Conference
- Make a lasting impact with a regular donation
- UCLH Cancer Conference 2026
- Hydrating for Health
- Have you considered leaving a gift to charity in your will?