Blood Cancer UK

Blood Cancer UK is a community dedicated to beating blood cancer, by funding research and supporting those affected. Since 1960, the charity has invested over £500 million in blood cancer research which has helped to transform treatments and save lives.

Cricket legend Lord Botham became involved in the charity's work in 1977, after taking a wrong turn in a Taunton hospital while being treated for a broken foot. He found himself in the children's ward where four small boys were playing cards. He chatted to them and when he said goodbye, he said he'd see them again in two weeks, but he was shocked to be told by the nurse that they all had leukaemia and did not have long to live.

Lord Botham was so shaken by the experience that he embarked on a walk from John O'Groats to Land's End in 1985, raising over £1 million. Since then, he's completed many more challenges, raising over £13 million. He became the charity's founding President in 2003.

In 1960, the year Blood Cancer UK was founded, only 1 in 10 children with the most common childhood leukaemia, acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), survived. Thanks to investment in medical research, including projects funded by Blood Cancer UK, and the profile and much-needed funds that Beefy has attracted, 8 in 10 children diagnosed with ALL survive today. Excitingly, we are continuing to see more progress.

Right now, Blood Cancer UK is funding 360 researchers across the UK who are searching for the next research breakthrough.

As well as looking for a cure in the future, Blood Cancer UK also help people right now. They're there for people when they need someone to talk to, whether on the phone or online, and offer health information people can trust, in a language they can understand.

They also campaign for change, helping to make sure that people get the health care they deserve and that new treatments that come from research breakthroughs are available on the NHS.

Projects and funding requirements

With such a dramatic improvement in survival from childhood ALL, it could easily be assumed that the job is done; but there are many problems still to tackle before we have beaten childhood leukaemia.

Firstly, 2 in 10 children still do not survive ALL and for the rarer types of childhood blood cancer, progress is even slower. More needs to be done to ensure that all children survive blood cancer and can live their lives to the full.

Secondly, we need kinder treatments. Children undergoing treatment still have to endure years of toxic drugs, which, as well as having devastating side-effects such as infertility and inhibited growth, can severely impact on normal family life: precious years that can't ever be replaced.

Blood Cancer UK remains committed to investing in leading childhood blood cancer research which will continue to improve survival and quality of life.

Put simply, research has and will save lives. Thanks to the generosity of Blood Cancer UK's supporters, the day we will beat blood cancer is now in sight and researchers are determined to finish the job.

For more information, please visit www.bloodcancer.org.uk