October Volunteering Update October Volunteering Update
A message from Julie
It’s October. This means that it’s time to think about Stand Up To Cancer and all things orange! It’s the 10th anniversary of Stand Up To Cancer, a campaign that funds pioneering research to get treatments to patients sooner. You can read about how shops are getting involved below.
October is also Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Cancer Research UK have helped double breast cancer survival over the past 40 years. And your support has underpinned the research that made this progress possible. We're continuing to fund exciting research in this area and have featured one project in this newsletter.
Thank you for playing your part in huge trading successes this month. In the first week of October, you helped our shops achieve the best-ever Sunday and Saturday sales within the same week!
Finally, thank you to everyone who completed the survey we sent last month where we asked you about the different ways you support Cancer Research UK. More than 750 people replied. We'll be collating your answers and will share the findings as soon as we can.
We're so grateful for your ongoing support.
Julie Byard, Director of Trading
Cancer Research UK
Stand Up To Cancer launches
The joint fundraising campaign from Cancer Research UK and Channel 4 brings the UK together to accelerate life-saving cancer research. We’ve made amazing progress against cancer. But, one in two people in the UK will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime, so we can't stop now.
Last year shop teams raised £1.1m towards Stand Up To Cancer – an even more incredible achievement given the pandemic! The money raised will enable translational research that will truly save lives. It could fund anything from building viruses that can kill cancer to creating a blood test to detect melanoma. All of which will make a real difference to people affected by cancer now and in the future.
Find out how shop teams across the country have been fundraising.
Welcome, Perry Barr superstore!
One of the biggest Cancer Research UK stores in the Midlands opened last week at Perry Barr - taking over £7,000 in its first day of trading!
The new superstore offers free collection for donated items of furniture, and has a community space which is free to use. The team are welcoming any local people who'd like to volunteer in store
Talking about cancer training
You can have conversations that can save lives through Cancer Research UK’s free online course.
We offer this training to staff and volunteers. Learning through quizzes, videos and more, you can learn at your own pace, on any device. The Talking About Cancer course will give you the tools and information to have empowering conversations with others about how to reduce the risk of cancer and the importance of early diagnosis.
It’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month
If we had to single out a cancer type where our research has had the biggest impact, there would be a strong argument for it being breast cancer. Our research has led the way in discovering genetic faults that increase the risk of breast cancer, it has shaped screening, developed drugs, evolved treatments, and even made huge contributions in finding ways to prevent the disease.
The upshot is that breast cancer survival has doubled in the past 40 years from around 40% in 1970 to around 80% today. Cancer Research UK’s work has been solidly at the centre of this progress.
Today, researchers like Professor Jean Abraham in Cambridge are leading exciting trials into personalising medicine for this cancer, matching patients to the right treatment for them.
What's coming up...
October is Black History Month
Throughout October, we’ll continue to amplify Black voices on our social media platforms, encourage allyship within our organisation, and work towards a more equitable work environment for our staff, volunteers and researchers. Head over to Cancer Research UK Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to read more about our plans.
Swindon superstore is opening!
A new superstore is opening this month in Swindon. If you live in the area, look out for news of the opening and pop down to say hello!
Cancer Chat
A moderated discussion forum where you can talk to others affected by cancer, share experiences and get support.
Talk to our nurses
If you’ve got questions about cancer, it's easy to call our nurses on freephone Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.
Volunteering news
Read the latest news and breakthroughs and stay up to date on all things volunteering by visiting the Volunteer Hub.