With spring just around the corner, there's so much to look forward to. Ramadan Mubarak to our volunteers who are observing Ramadan. This month's newsletter is full of inspiring moments - from celebrating our New Year Honours Heroes, an inspiring shop volunteer story, to a truly heartwarming video from Wendie-Lou that you won’t want to miss and much more. Dive in and enjoy the read!
Together we are beating cancer.
Julie Byard, Director of Trading
Cancer Research UK
We were delighted to see five of our volunteers recognised in this year’s New Year Honours list, including dedicated Cancer Research UK supporters Gail Wood and Sarah Williams-Gardener.
Gail, awarded a BEM (Medal of the Order of the British Empire), has supported us for over 35 years and raised more than £2m. Her annual Christmas Dinner Dance now attracts over 400 guests and raised £125,000 last year alone.
Sarah, awarded an OBE, joined Business Beats Cancer Cymru in 2023 and became Co‑Chair in 2024, helping deliver two successful gala dinners that have raised £120,000. And that’s not all – she also completed the Sea to Snowdon Summit Challenge, raising £7,000 to support our work.
Thank you and congratulations on receiving your honours!
This month, the Looe shop team have been celebrating Helen Sampson’s incredible 30 years of volunteering. Helen shared what inspired her to start volunteering and what she enjoys most:
As our Cancer Research UK for Children & Young People campaign draws to a close, we want to say a huge thank you to our volunteers. Across the country, your determination, enthusiasm and creativity has driven this campaign's success, helping to fund life-saving research and transforming the lives of many children and young people across the country, like Wendie-Lou.
You may recognise Wendie-Lou as one of the Stars currently on our shop posters. She was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia in October 2022 after her mum, Sammie, took her to the hospital when she developed a rash on her skin that developed into bumps.
Wendie-Lou took part in the MyeChild 01 trial, and it meant that she was able to recover enough to receive a life-saving stem cell transplant.
Now aged 3, Wendie-Lou is a bundle of energy who enjoys singing, dancing and playing with friends at nursery. Recently, Wendie-Lou visited our Bromsgrove shop to see her poster for the first time.
A huge thank you to every volunteer who makes every story like Wendie-Lou’s possible.
Watch Wendie-Lou’s heartwarming moment
With your support, we're funding the breakthroughs that matter. Breakthroughs are new discoveries that could help us beat cancer. Because of breakthroughs that matter, cancer survival in the UK has doubled over the past 50 years. But our work isn’t done yet. Right now, our researchers are making discoveries that could change how we prevent, diagnose and treat cancer, bringing hope to millions of people now and in the future. Thank you for giving your time to make our research possible. Visit our Breakthroughs Hub to find out more about our science and help spread the word about our impact.
A moderated discussion forum where you can talk to others affected by cancer, share experiences and get support.
As one of our shop volunteers you have access to tailored, free and confidential health and wellbeing support.
Find useful information and resources for volunteers and stay up to date with the latest news and updates.
If you received a link to this information by text message it is because you volunteer in one of our shops. If you’re no longer volunteering with us, please email us at volunteering@cancer.org.uk.
