Children with Cancer UK announces new partnership with Beads Of Courage UK

Beads of Courage UK has supported over 14,000 children and families across the UK following the diagnosis of a serious, chronic, or life-threatening illness. At every stage of cancer treatment, children receive a new Bead of Courage to form a physical representation of their journey, which represents key milestones including birthdays, events and completing treatment such as chemotherapy, helping them to process and communicate their journey in their own way.

The partnership will see Children with Cancer UK continue to fund the Beads of Courage UK Oncology programme, which it has supported since 2019. The programme is designed to offer support and strength to all children diagnosed with cancer as they undergo hospital treatment.

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.

Jo Elvin, CEO of Children with Cancer UK, said:

We are immensely proud to support Beads of Courage UK, and to help them continue their crucial work with children as they face the many challenges of their cancer treatment. Every single bead earned represents a significant milestone for these incredible children and is a moving testament to their resilience. It’s a vital mental health support tool for these children as they navigate the highs, lows and uncertainties of a cancer diagnosis and treatment. There is such synergy in the aims of Beads of Courage UK and Children With Cancer UK. We share a tireless commitment to being there for these wonderful children and their families during treatment and beyond.

And now, with the new Siblings programme, this support can be extended to ensure that every young person has the strength, courage and guidance they need when a brother or sister is diagnosed with cancer. We’re incredibly proud that our new partnership will help this crucial work continue in hospitals and oncology wards across the UK, and support thousands of children and their families.

John Drummond, co-founder of Beads of Courage UK, said:

As a family-run charity we are absolutely delighted that our support from Children with Cancer UK has been extended for another five years. This amazing collaborative partnership will now allow us to expand our Beads of Courage UK programme. We will soon be able to support thousands more children whose lives have been impacted by childhood cancer.

As part of its partnership with Beads of Courage UK, Children with Cancer UK will be gifting special beads to its highest fundraising runners in this year’s London Marathon. 500 pairs of the unique, handcrafted beads will be worn by runners, who will then each return one bead with a personalised note to a child or teenager coping with this serious illness.

Children with Cancer UK is the leading national children’s charity working towards a world where every child survives cancer.

Jo Elvin continued:

As well as funding ground-breaking scientific research into the treatment and causes of childhood cancer, we’re committed to providing ongoing support for young cancer patients and their loved ones. Our continued partnership with Beads of Courage UK will play a vital role in this work and we’re so pleased to support such an important initiative.

Survival rates for children’s cancers are improving. Fifty years ago, three-quarters of children diagnosed with cancer died; today more than 8 in 10 children diagnosed with cancer in the UK survive. However, with around 4,200 new cases each year in the UK, it is still one of the leading causes of death for children and young people.

For more information about Children with Cancer UK, visit www.childrenwithcancer.org.uk, and to find out about Beads of Courage UK, go to www.beadsofcourageuk.org.

ENDS

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Notes to Editors:

About Children with Cancer UK:

Children with Cancer UK is a leading children’s cancer charity dedicated to raising and investing funds into vital specialist research to save the lives of children and young people with cancer. Our mission is to improve survival rates and the quality of survival in young patients, and to find ways to prevent cancer in the future. Whilst working towards this, Children with Cancer UK funds support for children and their families as they navigate treatment. What began as a small memorial charity in 1988, has evolved into a major force raising more than £300 million and investing in over 200 pioneering research projects.

For more information about Children with Cancer UK, visit www.childrenwithcancer.org.uk