Fundraising Gala raises over £620,000 for specialist research and support for families

The fundraising total was given a boost by a £100,000 auction bid for a rare Picasso still life print, which was signed personally by Picasso. This was a record for the charity of the highest amount raised on a single auction lot in its 36 year history. 

Hosted by Gaby Roslin, the fundraising event welcomed famous faces including Ambassador for the charity, Olympian Paula Radcliffe, journalist and presenter Andrea McLean, interior designer Kelly Hoppen, TV personality Ollie Locke and his husband Gareth, TV and radio presenter Angellica Bell, and TV presenter Anita Rani.

Guests were visibly moved by an exclusive live performance from a children’s choir of 11 young people who have experienced a cancer diagnosis, and their siblings, singing a unique rendition of A Million Dreams from The Greatest Showman alongside Girls Aloud star, Nicola Roberts. One of the young choir singers who took his daily chemotherapy medication moments before the performance. 

Offering a spectacular evening of fundraising and entertainment, guests at the Children with Cancer UK Gala also enjoyed a live music set from Grammy-award winners, Soul II Soul, including their number one hit, Back to Life.

Jo Elvin, CEO at Children with Cancer, said:

As well as being a fantastic evening of entertainment, our annual Gala is an important opportunity for us to shine a light on the impact that research is making in the fight against childhood cancers, and a reminder that ongoing fundraising is critical to ensure that one day, every child will survive a cancer diagnosis.

Despite survival rates improving, there are still around 4,200 new cancer cases in children and young people in the UK every year. Every pound raised from this year’s Gala will make an immediate impact for children and their families by helping to fund life-saving scientific research into childhood cancers and provide crucial ongoing support for young cancer patients and their loved ones.