Cancer Research UK's £400m philanthropy campaign crosses halfway point - Cancer Research UK

Cancer Research UK announced today that it has raised a monumental £229m towards its More Research, Less Cancer philanthropy campaign – and is now over halfway towards reaching its £400m target. To mark this occasion, we are delighted to announce Sherry Coutu CBE as co-chair of the campaign board and The Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP as a campaign ambassador.

Launched in February 2024, More Research, Less Cancer is the largest philanthropy campaign undertaken by a UK charity, raising funds to help accelerate a new golden age of cancer research.

The next decade presents a unique opportunity to transform the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer for millions of people worldwide.

The global cancer research community stands on the brink of discoveries that could revolutionise how we understand cancer, but more funds are required if we’re to seize this opportunity.

Transformative breakthroughs can only be achieved with the partnership and generous support of philanthropists, trusts and foundations, which allow scientists and researchers to take risks, innovate and capitalise on international collaborations to improve and save millions of lives.

Kamini and Vindi Banga at the More Research, Less Cancer launch event. Image credit: Simon Way

To date, the campaign has attracted generous donations from individuals and global trusts and foundations. These include The Chris Banton Foundation, The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research, Garfield Weston Foundation, Oak Foundation, The Kamini and Vindi Banga Family Trust, Dr Robert Easton and Gervase Forster.

The campaign has also confirmed several high value legacy pledges from committed donors.

“We’re incredibly grateful to everyone who has donated to the campaign so far and are delighted to welcome Sherry and Jeremy onboard,” says Chief Executive of Cancer Research UK, Michelle Mitchell OBE.

Michelle Mitchell, Chief Executive of Cancer Research UK. Image credit: David Vintiner

“Our philanthropic supporters share our vision of ensuring sustainable funding for world class cancer research and translating these discoveries into tests and treatments so that more people, now and in the future, have more precious time with their loved ones. We’re limited only by finance, not good ideas.

“We’ve now surpassed the halfway mark, but there’s still further to go. With the support of those with the vision and means we can go further, faster – more support means more research, and more research means less cancer.”

Both strong advocates for Cancer Research UK, Entrepreneur and Angel Investor Sherry Coutu and Jeremy Hunt will be instrumental in helping us reach our £400m target.

Sherry Coutu, co-chair of the More Research, Less Cancer campaign board

“Fuelled by advances in AI and technology, the next decade presents a unique opportunity to transform the cancer landscape, making now the time to invest in the science that will continue to create revolutionary, cutting-edge solutions to the disease,” says Sherry.

“Scientists and researchers must be able to take risks and innovate, which is made possible through philanthropic support.”

"I’m incredibly proud to be co-chairing the More Research, Less Cancer campaign and supporting Cancer Research UK in raising £400m to help usher in golden age of cancer research.”

- Sherry Coutu

Image of Campaign Ambassador, Jeremy Hunt MP — Campaign Ambassador, Jeremy Hunt MP. Image credit: ©House of Commons (modified by Cancer Research UK)

Jeremy Hunt, who lost his mother, father and brother to cancer and was diagnosed himself with skin cancer in 2023, joins as a campaign ambassador.

“Like so many others, my family has been deeply affected by this awful, cruel disease,” says Jeremy.

“But there is hope – survival in the UK has doubled in the last 50 years and Cancer Research UK has been at the heart of this progress. Few organisations in the world can rival the charity’s global impact on cancer – its pioneering work into the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer has helped save millions of lives.”

"That’s why I’m delighted to be an ambassador for the More Research, Less Cancer campaign. With support from philanthropic partners around the world, Cancer Research UK can keep accelerating progress for this generation and the next.”

- Jeremy Hunt

Jeremy has supported Cancer Research UK on several occasions previously, including taking part in the charity’s flagship fundraising event series Race for Life.

Impact of the campaign so far

Donations made to More Research, Less Cancer to date are already helping the charity unlock discoveries about children’s and young people’s cancers and translate these into new and better ways to diagnose and treat them. Global impact grant maker Oak Foundation recently donated £8m towards this work.

Campaign donations are also helping to double the impact of the £15m Seed Fund managed by Cancer Research Horizons, the charity’s innovation arm, through the Cancer Impact Booster. This helps fund high-potential, early-stage cancer start-ups dedicated to turning scientific breakthroughs into effective treatments and diagnostics for cancer patients, with any financial returns being reinvested into more cancer research.

Family-founded grant-maker Garfield Weston Foundation recently donated £10m towards the Cancer Impact Booster.

We’re proud to be supporting the More Research, Less Cancer campaign. Cancer Research UK’s science has helped underpin the development of more than half the world’s essential cancer medicines. Their scientific prestige and powerful networks will enable the rapid translation of innovative research into effective tools, tests and treatments for people affected by cancer.

- Sophia Weston, Deputy Chair of Garfield Weston Foundation

The Francis Crick Institute

As well as powering innovation that can be translated into patient benefit, money raised by the campaign also helps fund the work of the Francis Crick Institute, one of the world’s leading biomedical research institutes.

The Crick recently benefitted from a generous £17m gift from the Chris Banton Foundation to support the construction of Skylab – new a 11,800 square foot rooftop laboratory – to expand partnership opportunities and strengthen the life sciences capabilities in the UK.

The Francis Crick Institute. Credit - Steve Potvin

For decades, Gervase Forster has made personal gifts and championed creative company initiatives to support Cancer Research UK, including a recent £1m gift.

“I’ve supported Cancer Research UK for over thirty years. I’m a cancer survivor myself, and I’ve always been inspired by the global impact of the organisation and its crucial mission to accelerate progress against cancer,” says Gervase.

“I first heard about the More Research, Less Cancer campaign at the launch event last February. It was a powerful and inspiring evening and the message was clear. More research will mean less cancer.

We’re all striving towards a future where the threat of cancer is eliminated, and I left that evening knowing that Cancer Research UK was the best organisation to deliver this cause. I’m very proud to be part of the campaign and to support research which will save lives.

- Gervase Forster

Donations are also supporting the global cancer research initiative Cancer Grand Challenges and being invested in early-stage researchers, clinicians and scientists to help them develop into the leaders of tomorrow.

Philanthropic giving has supported some of the charity’s key research achievements, including the significant progress made against cervical cancer, and the development of the HPV vaccine.

Visit our website to find out more about the More Research, Less Cancer campaign.