Childhood Cancer Info

Beads of Courage

Children with Cancer UK is delighted to support the Beads of Courage Oncology Programme in the UK.

Our partnership with Beads of Courage UK

The Beads of Courage UK Oncology programme is designed to offer support and strength to all children diagnosed with cancer as they undergo hospital treatment. Over 4,500 children are diagnosed with cancer every year. The first bead that young cancer patients receive will also be branded as the Children with Cancer UK bead to show our support for these brave children. This is part of our commitment to providing hope and happiness to children and young people with cancer.

The partnership will also help to fund the newly established Beads of Courage UK Siblings programme, which will provide support and guidance to children whose siblings are going through cancer treatment, and give them the courage to cope with challenging situations.

Since 2019, we have helped support approximately 14,000 children in over 100 hospitals acknowledge, celebrate and record over 10 million milestones! Our grant has also enabled training sessions to hospital staff on how to support individual patients throughout the programme both practically and emotionally.

What are Beads of Courage?

At every stage of cancer treatment, children receive a new Bead of Courage. The beads join together to form (often long) physical representations of their recovery, keeping a record of every hospital trip and treatment on their courageous journey. The Beads of Courage help to decrease illness-related distress and increase positive coping strategies to support children and their families. The Beads of Courage programme helped Lois (pictured) through her treatment for acute myeloid leukaemia. The endless treatments and procedures led to her experiencing severe anxiety, but the beads has a positive impact on her mental health.

There is an extensive Beads of Courage list that explains what each bead type symbolises. A few examples of these beads include:

Yellow bead: an overnight stay in hospital
White bead: a course of chemotherapy
Blue bead: visits to the clinic
Glow-in-the-dark bead: a course of radiation treatment
Glass bead: an act of courage
Special star bead: a special accomplishment
Purple heart bead: completion of treatment!

Explaining my childhood cancer journey

Ted was diagnosed with infantile lymphoblastic leukaemia at just six months old. Since then, throughout his treatment he has received a bead to symbolise each different point of his story. Watch Ted’s story.

This video was shortlisted for the 2020 Charity Film Awards.

Beating Cancer: the Beads of Courage and Ted’s Story

Ted was diagnosed with infantile acute lymphoblastic leukaemia at just 6 months old. Now in remission, Ted and his father share their experience of the road to recovery and how Beads of Courage UK helped to articulate Ted’s journey and story. Watch their story.

Running with a special Bead of Courage

On 24 April 2023, many of our wonderful London Marathon runners carried a special Bead of Courage for a child with cancer.

Two of these unique, handcrafted beads were carried by each runner as they took part in this most famous of all marathons – a personal achievement for any runner. At the end, they kept one bead and returned the other with a caring note to encourage a child or teen coping with serious illness.

A simple bead goes a long way to encourage and honour their fight for life.

Thank you for supporting children through their treatment

Thanks your generous support we’ve been able to commit £1.2 million since 2018 for the Beads of Courage UK oncology programme to support children, like Ted, who go through difficult treatment journeys.
Thank you for your support.

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Related topics

We have lots of information to help you learn more about childhood cancer. From specific cancer types, to treatments and causes.