Donate to catch up with cancer
Because Every Moment Counts
Sprinkle the magic of hope and hold a coffee and mince pie morning for your work team, family or friends to raise vital funds for the #CatchUpWithCancer festive appeal.
We’ll use every penny raised to speak up for the almost 4 in 10 cancer patients waiting too long for life-saving treatment. Thank you for helping us catch up with cancer.
Why support our appeal?
2023 has seen some of the longest waiting times for treatment that cancer patients have ever known. Waiting too long for treatment increases the risks of dying from cancer. We will use every penny raised to campaign to get cancer patients treated on time and improve their chances of being cured and living longer, better.
Your donation makes the difference. Thanks to our supporters, in the past year our work has:
- Been the first to raise concerns about the lack of ambition for cancer patients in the reduction in NHS cancer targets
- Brought cancer waiting times for treatment into the heart of Parliament, providing each and every MP with details of how long their constituents have to wait to get life-saving cancer treatment
- Launched a series of reports and analysis that call out the current cancer crisis in the UK, highlight the need for urgent change to improve patient survival rates, spotlight how the UK is falling behind in radiotherapy treatment compared to similar countries, and offer practical solutions
How you can help
Hold a coffee and mince pie morning for your team, and ask for a small donation to our appeal. The appeal launches on November 27 and runs until December 22. Christmas jumper day is on December 7 if you want to get into the spirit and do your coffee morning while wearing your most festive outfits.
You can set up a fundraising page for your coffee morning here, or collect donations and make a BACs transfer instead. Contact our team if you would like our details to do this.
Or treat yourself to a coffee and a mince pie this festive season. Talk about how cancer has changed your life. Take a moment to remember Kelly Smith, and the many thousands that have lost their lives or health to cancer.
Then, take action. Please consider a donation of £6 to help us advocate on behalf of every patient waiting for treatment.
In memory of Kelly ‘Kickass’ Smith 
Kelly was just 31, and her son was 6, when she died of bowel cancer. Her treatment was stopped because of the pandemic.
Kelly died three years ago, and the Russell family co-founded #CatchUpWithCancer in her memory, to prevent other families living through the same nightmare.
But while the pandemic is over, waiting times for cancer treatment are not.
For a donation of £6, help us speak up and speak out for UK cancer patients, so that families like Kelly’s get more Christmases together.
Craig Russell, Kelly’s father, said: “Cancer patients aren’t being failed by the doctors, nurses, porters and cleaners, they’re being failed by NHS England, the government and the Department of Health, who just keep dusting off the same old statements. There’s an absolute denial that there’s even a problem and that beggar’s belief.
“The frustration and anger are never going to go away, but we have tried to take that negative energy and do something constructive with it. I just want to stop even one family having to go through what we’ve been through.
“Our Christmases will never be the same again. There will always be that empty seat at the table.”
Further help for fundraisers
Need to get in touch? Contact our friendly team on fundraising@radiotherapy.org.uk
Download an event poster that you can personalise for your event
Please feel free to use the gallery below for socials.
Thank you so much!
