Meet our trustees
Our trustees provide strategic guidance and direction, ensuring that goals are in place to drive forward our support of research, treatment and welfare of children suffering with cancer.
David Gibbs, Chair of Trustees
David spent 30 years in the City of London as an investment banker. He sold his own business in 2016 and now works in real estate, private equity and technology. He has been married for 24 years and has three adult children.
Phil Hall
Phil is a former national newspaper editor and editor-in-chief of a global magazine. Phil went on to be the founder of one of the top independent PR agencies in the UK, The PHA Group, in 2005. Renowned for his contacts in senior media roles and in the sporting world and business, he specialises in reputation management of businesses and individuals and represents high profile individuals from Government, industry and the sport and entertainment world. He has been recognised as an industry leader by Spears, PR Week and Chambers and Partners.
Bruce Morland
Bruce recently retired as a Professor of Paediatric Oncology at Birmingham Women’s and Children’s Hospital. He spent his career managing children with non-CNS (Central Nervous System) solid tumours and is an international expert in the treatment of liver and bone tumours. Bruce has extensive experience in the development of novel new therapies for childhood cancer and the conduct of early phase clinical trials. He was previously Chairman of the Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group.
Nick Bird MBE
Nick’s involvement in childhood cancer began when his son Adam was diagnosed with high-risk neuroblastoma in 2009. Adam died in 2013 and since then Nick has become an active parent and patient advocate, holding numerous roles both nationally and internationally. He is a former member of the UK’s National Cancer Research Institute Children’s Group and current member of NHS England’s Clinical Reference Group for Children and Young People’s Cancer. Nick is also a Trustee of the neuroblastoma-focused charity Solving Kids’ Cancer UK. He was awarded an MBE for Services to Paediatric Oncology Patients and Research Advocacy in the King’s 2024 New Year’s Honours List.
Sara Wakeling
Sara is a passionate childhood cancer advocate and CEO of Alice’s Arc, a charity she co-founded after her daughter Alice’s battle with rhabdomyosarcoma. Following Alice’s passing in 2019, Sara became deeply involved in international research and advocacy, contributing to initiatives like NexTGen (Cancer Grand Challenge), European paediatric Soft Tissue Sarcoma Study Group (EpSSG) parent group and the FaR-RMS clinical study. She also holds Patient, Public & Involvement (PPI) roles advising on paediatric cancer clinical trials and science communication. With a background in marketing and business development, Sara also holds a counselling certificate from Birkbeck College, London.
Pamela Kearns – Scientific Advisor
Pamela is Professor of Clinical Paediatric Oncology at the University of Birmingham and an Honorary Consultant Paediatric Oncologist at Birmingham Women and Children’s Hospital. She is Director of the University of Birmingham’s Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences and Director of the Cancer Research UK Clinical Trials Unit (CRCTU). She is a Trustee for Cancer Research UK as well as A Child of Mine, a charity dedicated to supporting bereaved parents. She is also Chair of the Research Assessment Panel for GOSH Charity and Chair of The Independent Scientific Advisory Panel for Bone Cancer Research Trust.
Our story
After losing both their children to cancer, the O’Gorman family’s life work became to help other families living in the same situation.
Our impact
Since 1988, we’ve funded over 300 research projects into childhood cancer, developing kinder treatments and raising over £300m.
Help & support
If you need assistance or have questions, our team is here to help.
Cancer research videos
Scientific research can be complex, but we’re here to make it easier to understand. Our videos break down the research we fund, showing how it can make a difference in people’s lives.
What is childhood cancer?
This Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, Isaac and Noah help us to understand what childhood cancer is with Dr Owen Williams….
Watch now What is childhood cancer?
Living with a childhood brain tumour
Mia was diagnosed with a brain tumour when she was just five years old. Since then, she has completely lost…
Watch now Living with a childhood brain tumour
What is a brain tumour?
Owen helps us to understand what brain tumours are with Prof David Walker. Owen is a childhood cancer survivor. Prof…
Watch now What is a brain tumour?
Alice’s story and the research that helps
Alice was diagnosed with high-risk neuroblastoma a week before her second birthday. Watch the video to find out more about…
Watch now Alice’s story and the research that helps