Shop volunteer working and smiling.

June Update

This week is all about our amazing volunteers! Volunteers' Week is here, and we're celebrating the incredible difference you make every day - every hour you give brings us closer to a world where everyone can live longer, better lives, free from the fear of cancer. In this email, we're sharing a special video message, inspiring volunteer stories, and how we’re celebrating your impact. Keep reading for all the lovely details and from all of us, a huge thank you for your support!

Julie Byard, Director of Trading

Cancer Research UK

Happy Volunteers' Week!

Video from Michelle.

It’s Volunteers’ Week, and we want to say a huge thank you to all our incredible volunteers for everything you do to support our mission to beat cancer. Thousands of people right across the UK give their time to support our work. Every hour you give helps to make our life-saving research possible. To mark the occasion, our Chief Executive Michelle Mitchell has recorded a special message to thank you for your passion, energy and commitment, and to celebrate the breakthroughs we've made together over the past year.

Watch Michelle's video

Introducing our Volunteering Excellence Awards!

Shop volunteers in shop helping and smiling.

This Volunteers’ Week, we’re also delighted to announce that we’re launching a new volunteer awards programme: the Volunteering Excellence Awards. Nominations for the Volunteering Excellence Awards open this week, giving staff across the charity the opportunity to recognise and nominate our most exceptional volunteers. We can’t wait to read their nominations and hear about the amazing ways that volunteers are making a difference across Cancer Research UK. Winners will be selected by our panel of judges over the summer and shared later this year.

Read more on the Volunteer Hub

Andy's story

Image of Shop volunteer Andy.

I lost my mother in 2015 after she battled cancer three times. Seeing the impact on families when they lose a loved one to the disease made me want to help.

Celebrating your impact

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This week, we’ll be celebrating the impact you have across so many areas of Cancer Research UK – from keeping our shops running smoothly, to raising vital funds and campaigning for change. We’ll also be shining a spotlight on some of our inspiring volunteers’ stories. Head to the Volunteer Hub to read more.

As part of Volunteers’ Week we have special posters celebrating the campaign up in all shop windows from 25 May – 7 June. We want to say thank you to Henry from the Horsham shop and Steph from the Catterick Garrison superstore for sharing their photos and testimonials to be used.
Shop window poster.

Stopping cancer before it starts

We want to see a world where more cancers are prevented. Precision prevention is an evolving area of research that involves targeting and stopping the early biological changes that lead to cancer in people at high risk. And our scientists are at the forefront. Our researchers are working to deepen our understanding of how cancers begin and why some people are at higher risk. This will help us identify the earliest opportunities to intervene and stop cancer in its tracks. We’re also developing more personalised, precise and powerful prevention techniques to stop cancers before they start. Every step we take together brings us closer to a future where fewer people hear the words, “You have cancer”. You can find out more about CRUK-funded science and how it’s helping prevent more cancers by visiting the Breakthroughs hub on our website.

Our biggest breakthroughs in prevention

We're here to support you

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Cancer Chat

A moderated discussion forum where you can talk to others affected by cancer, share experiences and get support.

Cancer Chat

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The Retail Trust

As one of our shop volunteers you have access to tailored, free and confidential health and wellbeing support.

The Retail Trust

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Volunteer Hub

Find useful information and resources for volunteers and stay up to date with the latest news and updates.

Volunteer Hub

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.