The Charity Fighting Childhood Cancer | Children with Cancer UK

Help save a child's life. Donate today.

You can provide mental health support to children like Lois

By acting today, you could provide mental health support for children going through cancer treatment. Please help fund the Beads of Courage UK oncology programme to ensure every child who has cancer receives their own special beads. 100% of all one-off gifts to this campaign will directly fund the Beads of Courage UK oncology programme.

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Our new research strategy

We are delighted to share our latest five year Research Strategy (2022 -2027). As well as highlighting previous research success it details how Children with Cancer UK is moving into a new phase with a focus on more vital research.

Find out more

Olivia ringing the end of treatment bell (3)

Challenge yourself

We offer all kinds of events; you’re sure to find a fundraising opportunity to suit you. Your support will help every child survive their cancer diagnosis. Take a look at our event categories.

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Where your money goes

Every day more than 12 children and young people are diagnosed with cancer in the UK.

8 out of 10 young childhood cancer patients can be successfully treated thanks to vital, specialist research we helped fund.

We are working to develop safer, kinder & more effective childhood cancer therapies, with fewer toxic side effects.

We invest in childhood cancer research that would otherwise go unfunded. Only around 2% of cancer research funding in the UK* is spent on research that is fully dedicated to childhood and young adult cancer.

*estimated amount based on data from the NCRI Cancer Research Database (CaRD) for 2018/19

So what do we do?

We accelerate breakthroughs in research

As a children’s cancer charity, we actively raise and invest money to fund specialist research to improve our understanding of childhood cancer and save the life of every child affected by it.

Learn about our projects

Bella and her family on a day out at Zippos Circus

We inspire action and raise awareness

Sharing our learning for the greater good of all and inspiring people to contribute towards a better future for our children, we unite people to fight the injustice of cancer in children.

We support children and their families

We are there when families need us most. By funding welfare projects, delivering unforgettable events and fostering a loving environment, we strive to make the world a happier place for children.

Find out how we help

Research is essential

To save children’s lives, research is essential. Childhood cancers are different to adult cancers and need their own research. Most childhood cancers are unique to children.

At Children with Cancer UK we want to find safer, more effective treatments for all young patients. Cancer is still the most common medical cause of death in children and young people. Our focus as a children’s cancer charity is to fund visionary research and bring the breakthroughs that will bring hope to children and their families.

It started with a promise

Our journey started with a promise to a dying boy. The O’Gorman family were shattered when brother and sister, Paul and Jean, fell victim to cancer within nine months of each other. 14-year-old Paul died only six weeks after his initial diagnosis of leukaemia. But before he died, Paul asked his parents, Marion and Eddie O’Gorman, to help other children with leukaemia.

Paul’s sister Jean, in defiance of her cancer, started to raise money in her brother’s memory. She died just nine months later.

A bead for every treatment

Beads of Courage

At every stage of cancer treatment, children with cancer receive a new Bead of Courage. The beads join together to form a representation of the long journey to recovery, keeping a record of every hospital trip and treatment.

Our work over 30 years

30 years of impact on children's cancer

To celebrate 30 years working to beat childhood cancer, we commissioned an independent review to assesses our impact on children’s cancers and how children’s lives have been improved.

LARAIB child wearing a pink top sitting in a wheelchair looking at camera..

Follow an inspiring child.

A day in the life Laraib

24 hours in the life of a child with cancer. Understand what it means to be a child living with cancer as Laraib shows you her day through a series of short videos.

Watch her story

We are the leading national children's charity dedicated to the fight against childhood cancer.