The 14 runners â each with their own very personal stories and reasons for running â completed Sundayâs Marathon on behalf of Addenbrookeâs Charitable Trust (ACT) in what is one of the most celebrated events in the London calendar with over 50,000 runners coming together to raise money for a sea of good causes.
The total raised for ACT so far is just over ÂŁ30,000, with donations still coming in.
The ACT Cheer Squad
Thanking all of the charityâs runners, Bridget Parr, ACTâs Community Fundraising Co-ordinator, said:
“All of them did amazingly. To be able to support them over the last year has been a real honour for me, just to be part of their journey. They are all so inspiring. They all have their own reasons for running â from people whose children have been ill or had life-saving operations, to another running in memory of a friend they lost, to one of our runners, who broke her neck and wasnât sure she would ever be able to walk again, much less run, so to be there with her family when she passed our cheer point, was very emotional.â
Bridget was part of the ACT âcheer squadâ along with the charityâs Head of Community Fundraising, Donna Lee-Willis, positioned to the side of St Paulâs Church in Shadwell â so able to cheer runners at both the 13.5-mile mark and the 22.5-mile mark.
Thanking all of the amazing runners, Donna Lee-Willis, Head of Community Fundraising at ACT, said:
âLondon Marathon is by far one of my favourite events of the year. Watching thousands of people run, walk, jog the streets of London all for causes close to their hearts is emotional and inspiring. I cannot thank Team Addenbrookes enough – you are all simply incredible and we are all super proud of you. I have been cheering on runners at this event for 22 years and every year it fills me with total admiration. The money you have raised for ACT will enable us to continue making our hospital great. THANK YOU SO MUCH.â
All 14 ACT runners completed Sundayâs marathon, but for one, Sarah Barnard-Mitcham, it proved a real challenge after spraining her ankle on a water bottle at the start. She wasnât feeling great around the 13-mile mark but walked with her sister â and carried on despite not feeling great, completing the 26.2-mile challenge in just over six hours.
Addenbrookeâs Charitable Trust also got a mention in live coverage of the event when Liza Putwain was interviewed by BBC Sport reporter, Jeanette Kwakye, on the day, interviewing her on her way round the course.
Liza (pictured left) wanted to run for Addenbrookeâs as a way of thanking staff who cared for her after she broke her neck in a freak accident when she was flipped from an inflatable object during an assault course. The mum-of-three had been running the course in memory of her husband Ian, who had died unexpectedly eight months earlier.
Describing how amazing it was to be part of the London Marathon, the film studies teacher from just outside Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk said:
“It sounds corny but when you are running it, it just feels like the whole city just loves each other in a world where thereâs so much negativity at the moment. It feels like you are a Premiership footballer because everybody is calling your name and wanting you to win. Itâs like they are on your team and cheering you on. I heard âLiza come on you can do itâ thousands and thousands of times on Sunday.â
She said the special, emotional moments for her were seeing her three children, Ella, 17, Sophie, 13, and Charlie 11, on the side lines with her sister and niece. Other memorable moments including spotting two signs â Remember Your Why â and one that, she says, is her own mantra â We Can Do Hard Things â which is not surprising when you hear Lizaâs own story.
“I say it all the time, to my kids particularly, and they say it back to me when Iâm struggling. Itâs like we say, we can do hard things. Life is tough but we can get through this, we can do it, so when I saw that sign I was like âoh my gosh, thatâs my mantra.â
Asked what she is planning next, Liza said she is thinking of applying for a ballot place in the 2026 London Marathon but deferring for a year. She is also planning to run a half marathon with her niece â and do a HYROX event too.
âI was talking to another runner and we were saying it was like childbirth. Itâs like, in that moment when you have just run the London Marathon, youâre like, âoh my gosh, that was horrific I will never do that again. And then you get the post marathon high and youâre like, âthis is amazingâ and before you know it you are signing up to do it again.â
Just some of the more personal reasons runners had for taking part include:
Will Hemsley, running for ACT to thank staff at Addenbrookeâs Hospital who cared for his close friend Josh, who sadly lost his life in 2016, aged just 18.
Liza Putwain, with her story above.
Alfie Lowe who fundraised for ACT last year after his friend Rhuey was diagnosed with Hodgkinâs Lymphoma, raising ÂŁ1,500 for the charity by hiking the Edale skyline. This year, he ran the London Marathon in memory of his friend Alex Paterson, who they lost last year â saying: âAlex was one of the most loyal, caring and genuine people I knew, and heâs left a giant hole in a lot of our hearts.â
Chris Loveday whose wife Carly underwent a live kidney transplant at Addenbrookeâs in 2010. Carly fell pregnant in 2011 and was seen at regular intervals by both the transplant team and specialists at the Rosie. Nearly 2 years after her transplant, Carly was admitted to the Rosie with complications and the family were told to expect the worst â and daughter Flo was born by emergency C-section, 7 weeks premature and with life-threatening complications. Flo was cared for initially on NICU for 2 weeks and remained in special care in the Rosie for a further 3 weeks. Thanking Addenbrookeâs and the Rosie for all their care, Chris shared the news that this year, daughter Flo becomes a teenager!
Sarah Barnard-Mitcham (pictured below) who was treated at Addenbrookeâs after being diagnosed with High-Grade DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma in Situ) following a mammogram. Describing the care she received at Addenbrookeâs, Sarah said: âThroughout this process, the care Iâve received at the Cambridge Breast Unit at Addenbrooke’s has been nothing short of exceptional.â The hospital is also supporting her sister, Stephanie, as she navigates Early Onset Alzheimerâs, having been diagnosed at just 47. Sarah added: âOver the years, Addenbrooke’s has supported not just my family but countless others in our community. Thatâs why Iâve chosen to fundraise for Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust.â
ACT thanked all this yearâs âamazing runnersâ who were: Alex Tarrant, Chris Loveday, Will Hemsley, Richard York-Weaving, Josh Scarlett, Michelle Meads, Liza Putwain, Jack Smith, Ben Smith, Alfie Lowe, Amy De Selincourt, Darren Godfrey, Sarah Barnard-Mitcham, and Tanya Wagstaff.
All of the money raised from Sundayâs marathon will go to Addenbrookeâs Charitable Trust (ACT), the official charity for Addenbrookeâs Hospital and the Rosie. ACT funds cutting-edge equipment, groundbreaking research, and improvements to the environment for both staff and patients, above and beyond what the NHS is able to provide.
** If you would like to run for Team Addenbrookeâs in the 2026 London Marathon, sign up now for one of ACTâs charity places.
Runners who would like to apply for a place have until Monday 9 June at 9am. Anyone who is shortlisted will then be offered a telephone interview to talk about their fundraising plans and reasons for running â with TEAM ADDENBROOKES announced the week commencing Monday 23 June.
Local property firm Cheffins is marking its 200-year anniversary by pledging ÂŁ200,000 to charity through a combination of fundraising events and donations. The majority of the funds will go towards the Cambridge Childrenâs Hospital through Addenbrookeâs Charitable Trust (ACT). Cheffins aims to raise a minimum of ÂŁ100,000 for the hospital, which will provide a dedicated playroom for children undergoing treatment. This initiative aligns with Cheffins’ commitment to supporting mental health services for future generations in the region.
Established in Saffron Walden in 1825, Cheffins has grown to become one of the best know professional services firms in the region, specialising in property, land, fine arts and farm machinery sales. Like ACT, Cheffins is now focusing on the future while committing to the local community and supporting vital services throughout the region.
Bill King, Chairman of Cheffins, expressed his excitement about the fundraising efforts: âWe are thrilled to announce that we are aiming to give this significant amount of money for such an important cause and will be hosting a series of wonderful fundraising events throughout the year, while also match funding all of the charitable efforts of our staff. We are now looking to build a strong foundation for the future of Cheffins as well as the next generations of the people of Cambridgeshire and the surrounding area. We are celebrating with purpose and are proving our commitment to the community with our charitable efforts this yearâ.
The Cambridge Childrenâs Hospital will be a pioneering, purpose-built hospital on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus. It will transform healthcare and have a life-changing impact on the 1.5 million children in the East of England, the only region in the UK without a dedicated childrenâs hospital. The hospital will be the first of its kind, combining both physical and mental health services.
ACT CEO, Shelly Thake, shared her pride in partnering with Cheffins:
âWe couldnât be prouder to be partnering with Cheffins, in the year of their 200th anniversary and ACTâs 30th birthday, to raise money for the new Cambridge Childrenâs Hospital. Their passion and commitment to supporting the mental health of young people in our region, and this new hospitalâs goal of integrating physical and mental health together, in one hospital for the first time, makes this a fantastic partnership. This new hospital will save and change the lives of countless children and young people â but that can only happen with the help of supporters like Cheffins, and their wonderful colleagues and customersâ.
Cheffins have lots of exciting events and plans for the year ahead to raise money as well as awareness of the Cambridge Childrenâs Hospital and ACT. Weâre excited to see what they get up and canât wait to share the news in the future that theyâve smashed their fundraising target.
A minimum of ÂŁ20,000 is also being donated to the Cambridgeshire Community Foundation to support vital funds for young people’s mental health and wellbeing projects in the communities local to Cheffins. The remaining ÂŁ80,000 raised and gifted will be donated to various other charities nationwide.
A Norfolk village whose residents have just made national news with photos of their naked calendar for charity are finishing their year of fundraising with a shout out for more singletons to join their final event later this month – speed dating.Â
The Denton Dreamboys hit the headlines after producing their naked calendar to raise money for both Addenbrookeâs Charitable Trust (ACT) and the Royal Papworth Charity.
The village of Denton has been praised as âone of a kindâ by Paul White, ACTâs Director of Communications and Impact, after all the extraordinary efforts involving the entire village with fundraising events throughout this year.
Events have included Easter Bingo; a Tractor Run; Party on the Meadow; Walking Football; and a Plough Day, where 45 tractors from neighbouring villages drove to Hardwick Airfield before returning to Denton to plough five fields in the village.
Organisers Paul and Karen Wilby organised a year of events after Paulâs son, Ben, was given a lifesaving operation at Papworth Hospital for Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension caused by blood clots on his lungs.
The village decided to raise money for Addenbrookeâs Charitable Trust â the official charity for Addenbrookeâs Hospital and the Rosie â as well as Papworth because so many of the villagers have been treated there.
Culminating with another fun-themed event, their final speed dating evening will take place at the local village hall on Saturday 14th December.
Karen, pictured below with husband Paul, has put a shout-out for more people to sign up saying: âItâs not just about romance. Itâs about friendship too and making new friends and perhaps making old friends again. Itâs about linking up with people who live locally that you might have forgotten about.â
âAt the moment we have a lot of mature ladies in their 60s and a couple of gents in their 60s and one man coming up for the night who is in his 30s so weâre putting a call out for as many people as would like to come. Everyoneâs welcome. Anyone over 30 but we want lots of people of all ages.â
She said whilst the event isnât just about romance â she joked: âItâs about friendship but hopefully more but it would be nice to have everyone coupled up for Christmas! There will be a sprig of mistletoe hanging up in the hall so that they can have a good old snog on the way out!â
Tickets cost ÂŁ5. To sign up, contact Karen at: rdove@talk21.com
Since launching their calendar last month, Paul has received hundreds of messages of support from people wanting to buy the calendar to support Addenbrookeâs and Papworth after they or their relatives were treated there. He even received an order from as far afield as Holland, from an 87-year-old lady who wrote: âWe may have lost our faculties, but we havenât lost our sense of humour!â
Calendar sales on eBay alone have reached ÂŁ3,500 so far with more funds due in from shops.
Paul said life had gone a little crazy since the calendar launch last month, adding that since appearing on ITV Anglia, BBC Look East and featuring on BBC Breakfast, Denton Dream Boys have also been approached by This Morningâs production team, to appear on national TV later this month.
For anyone still wanting to get hold of one of the now-famous Denton Dream Boys calendar, they can order it here for ÂŁ15 including P&P.
To view the ITV Anglia film on the Denton Dream Boys click here, but only if you are prepared to see a few bare bottoms!
Caring staff at a firm in Ely who have been planning their Annual Christmas Ball for a year look set to donate a present for every patient in hospital over the Christmas period at both Addenbrookeâs and the Rosie.
James Stevens and his staff at Cambridge Commodities picked Addenbrookeâs Charitable Trust (ACT) – the official charity for Addenbrookeâs and the Rosie – as their official charity partner seven years ago. Since then they have been busy fundraising for the two hospitals throughout the year.
The firmâs Annual Christmas Ball focuses on giving back at Christmas â with proceeds from this monthâs event raising money to buy a Christmas present for every patient who will be in hospital over the festive season. James and his team are also buying boxes of chocolates for staff to share on the day too.
âOne of the most special times in the year is Christmas,â James said. âAnd every year, at our annual festive ball, we raise money to pay for every patient who wakes up on Christmas Day to receive a gift. These gifts are wrapped by Team Cambridge Commodities and delivered to the hospital. Waking up at Christmas is made special knowing we might have brought a smile to patientsâ faces.â
ACTâs Chief Executive, Shelly Thake, said: âChristmas can be a really special time of year for families, friends and loved ones to spend quality time together. But we are very aware that isnât always the case for a lot of people.â
âFor patients who sadly find themselves in hospital over Christmas it can be a very difficult time not just because they are unwell but also because they are away from home and their loved ones. The amazing hospital staff do everything they can to care for them, but most people just want to be at home at Christmas. That is why we are incredibly grateful to Cambridge Commodities and all their staff for their fundraising efforts to bring Christmas to the hospital.â
âEach year they raise enough money to buy and wrap a present for every single patient staying in Addenbrookeâs over Christmas. All their planning, hard work and kindness really does put a smile on the faces of both patients and staff.â
Benâs Yard, in Ely, also gets involved by donating their marquee and refreshments as a space for Christmas wrapping, providing their own team of staff to help wrap presents too.
James said one of the reasons his staff picked ACT as their charity partner was because of the impact Addenbrookeâs and the Rosie have had on so many of their own lives.
Since they started wrapping and buying presents for the hospitals three years ago, staff have already experienced the direct impact of their kindness, including Emily, whose daughter Ayda was born in the Rosie just after Christmas.
Emily, the firmâs EU Account Manager, had helped wrap Christmas presents to be distributed to patients on Christmas Day and had been booked to have a C-Section on New Yearsâ Eve. However, she went into labour early and was admitted to the Rosie on Christmas Eve, which meant she was one of the patients to receive one of the presents on Christmas Day.
âI was in hospital on Christmas Day waiting to give birth, so I received one of the presents that I had helped wrap; some hand cream and body lotion, which was a really thoughtful present.â
âSomething like that just makes you feel supported and reassured that people are thinking of you and trying to make you feel better about being in hospital over Christmas, when you donât want to be.â
Another member of staff to experience the direct impact of their fundraising efforts is Natalie Scott Paul, the firmâs Head of Payroll, who organises the Annual Christmas Ball every year with finance manager Carly Purell.
âOne of the things we wanted to do was pay the salary of a play therapist. That year my daughter was admitted to Addenbrookeâs, and the play therapist came to see her while she was waiting to be seen. I texted everyone at work and said, âwe did that!ââ
Natalie and Carly said planning for the event takes place all year round but say the results are worth it.
However, it isnât just charitable partners who can make a difference at Christmas â members of the public can too.
Anyone wanting to bring a little Christmas cheer to patients and staff throughout the year can log onto ACTâs online shop where they can choose to buy a virtual gift or purchase one of ACTâs specially designed Christmas cards, with all profits going towards making the hospitals even better.
Virtual gifts can buy anything from an hour of therapeutic play or a stocking filler toy for a child in hospital this Christmas, refreshments for hardworking staff or even a set of warm clothes for elderly patients.
Talking about spreading the feel-good factor beyond Christmas, ACTâs Chief Executive added: âWhilst Christmas always acts as a bit of a focus for people, their kind thoughts and donations donât have to stop at Christmas. As a charity we have fundraising and volunteering opportunities available throughout the year â so choosing to take part is a way of spreading the Christmas cheer throughout the year if you like.â
This is a sentiment backed by James, who listed just some of the ways he and his staff have been able to get involved throughout the year.
“In the seven years weâve been working with ACT we have been given the opportunity to be part of so many incredible events. Weâve Dragon boated, weâve handed out daffodils to CUH staff, baked cakes, weâve half marathoned, human fruit machined, dressed up, quizzed, wrapped Christmas presents, put on some spectacular festive black-tie events, laughed, cried and had the most memorable of times. These events havenât just raised much needed money for ACT but have brought our team, Team CC, closer together and added purpose.”
Donna Lee-Willis, Head of Community Fundraising at ACT, said volunteering or fundraising for a charity like ACT can bring a lot of happiness to individuals too. âWe have so many amazing fundraisers â like 17-year-old Ernie (pictured right), who raised over ÂŁ3,000 by doing a Skywalk for ACT to give back to staff at Addenbrookeâs, after being treated for Ewings Sarcoma himself.â
Ernieâs mum, Georgina, said Ernie, who is still receiving treatment, wanted to give back to the staff on C9 ward at Addenbrookeâs who care for him when he is hospital. âThey really do go above and beyond. They stay later than they need to and help patients more than they need to and have become friends. I think he just wanted to give something back. I am extremely proud of him. Heâs a one off!â
Donna added: âWe have so many amazing fundraisers who raise money for the hospitals throughout the year, either through their own events or by choosing to take part in one of our specially-designed ones – which for 2025 include a charity skydive, the TTP Cambridge Half Marathon in March, the London Marathon in April and the Cambridge Dragon Boat Festival in September.â
âBeyond that though, members of the public can volunteer to help us out at one, or all, of our events throughout the year, acting as an ambassador for what is a really great organisation to be part of.â
âAll our volunteers get a lot of pleasure from working with us and for us as an organisation their support is invaluable. We wouldnât be able to do what we do without them.â
How you can get involved
Addenbrookeâs Charitable Trust (ACT) is the official charity for Addenbrookeâs and the Rosie hospitals, and money raised by supporters help make the hospitals even better by funding cutting-edge research, innovations and high-tech equipment, above and beyond what the NHS is able to provide.
To buy a virtual gift for a patient at the hospital, or a specially designed Christmas card, visit ACTâs online shop.
This year’s John Addenbrooke Lecture provided an evening of insightful presentations, stimulating conversations, and the opportunity to be part of a community dedicated to making a difference.
The annual event saw an exceptional line up of speakers all of whom are leaders within their field:
Dr. Ken Poole, an esteemed Academic Consultant in Rheumatology and Metabolic Bone Disease, presented his latest findings that are transforming the approach to bone health and rheumatologic care. Professor Matthias Zilbauer, Clinical Professor of Paediatric Gastroenterology, shared his ground-breaking research and insights into children’s digestive health, and Sue Broster, Director of Innovation, Digital, and Improvement, discussed the innovative strategies and digital advancements driving improvement in healthcare delivery.
Click below to watch a recording of the 2024 John Addenbrooke Lecture:
The lecture, which was held at Astra Zenecaâs imposing building on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus, was hailed a huge success by ACTâs Director of Communications and Impact, Paul White:
“We couldn’t have been prouder of ACT and its impact following the John Addenbrooke’s Lecture. For so many of our valued supporters to be there, listening to the extraordinary talks by some of the hospital’s leaders in research and innovation, really showcased what our charity – and our supporters â can, and do, achieve across Addenbrooke’s and the Rosie.”
He continued: âTo hear three remarkable individuals, who between them are changing the way we treat life-limiting conditions such as osteoarthritis and inflammatory bowel disease, and driving forward innovation that will go on to save and change countless lives, talk of how grateful they are to ACT and its supporters, and how their work has only been possible because of the people in that room, was a moment to really be proud of – and one which will motivate us to do even more going forward.â
If you would like to make a change today, and donate to ACT to help fund ground-breaking research and equipment within our hospitals, please click here. To here more about ACT’s activities sign up at the foot of our homepage.
A HUGE thank you and congratulations to two of our fundraisers who featured in a TV special as nominees for this yearâs prestigious Pride of Britain Awards.
David Bateson, pictured here with medical oncology consultant Dr Brent O’Carrigan, and Joyce Cripps, pictured with transplant surgeon Andrew Butler, being filmed in the background, have fundraised tirelessly for Addenbrookeâs through Addenbrookeâs Charitable Trust (ACT), the official charity for Addenbrookeâs and the Rosie, whose supporters raise funds to help make the hospitals even better by funding cutting-edge research, innovations and high-tech equipment, above and beyond what the NHS is able to provide.
Both were shortlisted for ITV Angliaâs Regional Fundraiser of the Year and although they werenât selected to go through to the finals of Pride of Britain Awards later this year, we are incredibly proud of both of them for all their hard work and for sharing their personal stories to a wider audience.
David Bateson â who has raised ÂŁ50,000 for Addenbrookeâs Charitable Trust after being treated at Addenbrookeâs Hospital for cancer â shared his story on the ITV Anglia special.
The father of three, from Ampthill in Bedfordshire, was diagnosed with melanoma in 2019. Davidâs cancer returned twice but after surgery and treatment, followed by pioneering immunotherapy, David was given the news in January of this year that there was no trace of cancer left in his body.
Since his news, David has worked tirelessly to raise money for cancer services by fundraising for ACT and has raised a staggering ÂŁ50,000 which will go to melanoma research and the ÂŁ14 million public appeal to build the new Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus by 2029.
Explaining why he felt the need to continue fundraising for cancer research, David said: âThe chances are I wouldnât be here today if it wasn’t for people researching and developing new drugs to fight cancer and I think the new cancer hospital planned for Cambridge is going to take that to another level.â
“For people going through cancer, my message would be, never give up hope. There is always hope and it is amazing what is being developed in terms of new cancer treatments.”
Joyce Cripps, our fundraiser from Bishopâs Stortford in East Hertfordshire, was nominated as regional fundraiser for Anglia East Region after spending over half her life fundraising for charities.
The retired carer and care manager, pictured here, started fundraising over 40 years ago after her daughter Julieâs primary school was damaged by fire. She went on to raise over ÂŁ104,000 for various charities including Cancer Research, Marie Curie, The Willow Foundation which organizes special holidays for terminally ill patients and their families, local hospitals, Guide Dogs for the Blind, and The Little Princess Trust, which makes wigs for children with cancer.
However, it was after her daughter Julie underwent a lifesaving liver transplant at Addenbrookeâs six years ago that Joyce pledged to dedicate all her fundraising to liver transplant research by raising money for ACT.
Joyceâs fundraising total for Addenbrookeâs transplant services is set to top ÂŁ25K by the end of this year which she has raised through tribute nights which she books throughout the year, organizing raffle donations and making all the room and table decorations by hand herself.
As part of her nomination, Joyce was filmed with her husband, John, and daughter Julie visiting the transplant unit to meet Andrew Butler, the surgeon who performed Julieâs lifesaving transplant.
Some of Joyceâs money has already been used to refurbish two staff and patient rooms in the unit as well as fund a single use of the Liver Perfusion Machine, pictured above, which ACT supporters raised ÂŁ250,000 to buy. As part of filming for the special, Joyce and her family got to see the machine â which mimics the body to ensure a liverâs functionality before transplant and allows surgeons to âtest driveâ livers for suitability before transplanting them.
âAs a family, words are not enough to express our gratitude to that wonderful team who saved Julie’s life. Realizing the difference my fundraising has made to other patients’ lives means this tireless work will continue to my days’ end!â Joyce said.
âI have agreed to ongoing monies raised be used for transplant research thus enabling many more lives being saved. Had it not been for past research Julie’s story would have been very different.â
As well as David and Joyce, another one of our fundraisers featured on the ITV Anglia special. Pig farmer Nathan Lister, from Redgrave, drove the length of Britain in a bright pink Citroen Picasso – referred to as his ‘Pigasso’ after he transformed it into a fundraising pig, complete with snout, tail, ears and eye lashes.
Nathan was diagnosed with Hodgkin Lymphoma at 22 and underwent 12 intense rounds of chemotherapy at Addenbrooke’s Hospital. Now in remission, Nathan and his friends drove from John O’Groats in Scotland to Land’s End in Cornwall, raising more than ÂŁ12,000 for Addenbrooke’s Hospital through ACT and Cancer Research UK, who were interviewed on the show.
Congratulating David and Joyce, who were both nominated for their fundraising for ACT, our charity’s Chief Executive Shelly Thake said:
âWe are extremely proud of all our fundraisers. Each and every one of them put in hours and hours of their own time to help make our hospitals even better. In David and Joyceâs case, both have worked tirelessly to raise funds that will go into research to benefit future patients.
“Both took it upon themselves to fundraise for our hospitals at what was a very stressful time in their life â David, when he was still undergoing immunotherapy treatment and Joyce, whilst her daughter was still recovering from a major, lifesaving operation. Not only that, but they continue to fundraise as well as share some of the more private and challenging moments of their life in order to help raise awareness and support others going through a difficult time themselves.â
âWhilst they didnât get through to the Pride of Britain finals later this year, they did incredibly well to be nominated for ITV Angliaâs Regional Fundraiser of the Year. They should be incredibly proud of all the awareness and hard work they put into their fundraising so we would like to extend a huge congratulations to both of them and thank them for everything they do on behalf of ACT.â
This yearâs 2024 Cambridge Dragon Boat Festival blew fundraising expectations out of the water â with a staggering ÂŁ35k raised for the new Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital (CCRH).
A total of 41 teams and over 600 competitors gathered along the riverbank at Fen Ditton for Saturdayâs 18th Cambridge Dragon Boat Festival â paddling 30ft Dragon Boats up the river in glorious sunshine.
As well as the races, bankside entertainment brought the crowds in â with lion dances from the Cambridge Chinese Community and family-friendly entertainment provided by sponsors, Illumina (pictured below), with fun activities such as strawberry DNA extraction, dress like a scientist with a walk-through Cambridge DNA history, face painting and flag making.
We were there too â in a tent full of Addenbrookeâs Charitable Trust staff and volunteers, with donations to our raffle and hook a duck all helping to boost our ÂŁ14 million public appeal for the new specialist cancer hospital.
Saturdayâs electric event raised ÂŁ35,000 and all funds will be used in support of the Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital (CCRH). The hospital, which will be built on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus by 2029, will bring together clinical and research expertise in a new, world-class hospital, designed in partnership with staff and patients. It will detect cancer earlier, treat it more precisely, and save more lives.
A special shout out to all the teams who competed to raise money for the new hospital â and to Cambridge 105 for supporting us on the day with live interviews and the Cambridge Independent who were taking photos on the day.
Teams travelled from outside the county to take part in Saturdayâs Festival â with winners of the best dressed competition, Mosses Arc, travelling down from outside Chester to celebrate their friend Paulâs 50th birthday. Following a Noahâs Arc theme their outfits came two by two â with everything from flamingos to leopards, giant furry rats and chickens. Weâre not sure how they managed to row in them â but they looked great!
Thank you also to the teams with multiple entries including TWI Ltd; Ring; AstraZeneca; Huawei Technologies; and the Railway Arms.
ACTâs Natasha Robertson, Corporate Partnerships Manager, hailed the festival a huge success and said: âIt was such a fantastic day with an amazing atmosphere. It was lovely to meet all the teams and having the CCRH project team competing, as well as on their stand, meant that everyone who came â whether they were competing or coming to join in the fun â could see the direct impact they were having by helping to raise money for the new cancer hospital.
âWe are absolutely delighted to have raised ÂŁ35,000. Itâs been our best festival yet!â
The overall winners were the Cosgrove Paddle Shifters
Lucy Morton, Executive Director from organisers NewWave Events, said: âThe 2024 Cambridge Dragon Boat Festival was a complete success and the whole team at NewWave Events had a fantastic day with all the crews. The fundraising efforts resulted in a record-breaking amount being raised for ACT from this event and weâre eager to build on this further for 2025! Watch this space for more information about next year, with plans already starting we have lots of ideas and hopefully, we will be bringing the dragons back to the River Cam with a sell-out event for the 20th year!â
Mark Robinson, VP and General Manager, UK and Ireland, and Northern Europe, Illumina said: âlllumina had an incredible day as sponsors of the 2024 Cambridge Dragon Boat Festival to raise vital funds for Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust to build a specialist cancer hospital in Cambridge. Seeing families, friends, and local businesses come together to support their teams provided an amazing atmosphere for the day and made it extra special.â
Elaine Chapman, Lead Advisory Nurse for CCRH, joined the CCRH project team in their boat and said: âWe were absolutely delighted to take to the waters to raise money for Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital. It was my third time in a race crew and probably the best event yet!â
âWeâd like to say a huge thank you to everyone who came out to support such an amazing cause which has led to an incredible ÂŁ35K raised for our future facility, that is bringing world-leading research and clinical excellence together, to change the lives of cancer patients across the UK and beyond.â
âWeâre involving patients and staff at every stage of our project, so it was incredibly fun and rewarding to have our patients with us racing on the River Cam for CCRH.â
ACT would like to extend a HUGE thank you to all the teams taking part on the day. We hope to see you return next year for an even bigger, better festival with funds from next yearâs festival again going towards our ÂŁ14 million public appeal to help build the new Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital.
Click here if you would like to donate to Cancer services at Addenbrookeâs and the new Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital.
Tattoo artist Bobbie Lee is using a charity flash day at the Cambridge studios where he works to raise awareness of testicular cancer after being diagnosed with the disease at just 32 years old.
Bobbie, who was diagnosed with testicular cancer in November last year, underwent surgery at Addenbrookeâs in December.
He has since been given the all-clear but has regular check-ups every two months and has to return for regular blood tests and CT scans.
Although testicular cancer is rare, it is the most common cancer in men aged between 15 and 49, with around 2,400 men diagnosed each year in the UK. According to Cancer Research UK, the most common symptom of testicular cancer is a lump or swelling.
Testicular symptoms to look out for include: a lump or swelling in part of one testicle; a testicle that gets bigger; a heavy scrotum; discomfort or pain in your testicle or scrotum.
All Known Tattoo Collective, a multi-award-winning tattoo studio in Hills Road, Cambridge where Bobbie works, has organised a charity flash day on Saturday 17th August, with walk-in appointments.
Seven of the teamâs award-winning tattooists will be there on the day, with doors open from 10am to 6pm. Cambridge bar Vodka Revs is hosting a pop-up bar, with food, between 12 noon and 5pm, with merchandise on sale on the day.
Proceeds will go to Addenbrookeâs Hospital via Addenbrookeâs Charitable Trust. As the official charity for Addenbrookeâs and the Rosie, our supporters raise funds to help make the hospitals even better by funding cutting-edge research, innovations and high-tech equipment, above and beyond what the NHS is able to provide.
Bobbie, whose cancer was diagnosed early, says he is keen to take away some of the stigma around talking about testicular cancer â and remind men to check their bodies.
âIt is a little embarrassing to talk about as it is testicular cancer but I would rather talk about it than not as it is more about raising awareness. I spoke to my dad about it and he said he wouldnât have gone to the doctor as he would have been too embarrassed but thatâs why itâs important to talk about it and to remind men to check their bodies.â
Bobbie, who has one friend the same age currently undergoing treatment for testicular cancer and a second, in his 20s, who has been given the all-clear, said: âI didnât have any of the more obvious signs like swelling or pain, I only had a little discomfort, so itâs really important to check out anything you might be worried about.â
He has been working as a tattoo artist for 14 months, describing his style as âcolour work, neo traditional, cartoon style, with lots of ducksâ, and says he now talks to his customers about his cancer too.
âI normally make jokes about it to be honest and have a bit of banter because if you are miserable about it, itâs not good. But if I am tattooing someone for a long time, it can get a little uncomfortable as you have to lean forward a bit when you tattoo so I can feel where my scar is, so I explain to customers why I need to get up and walk about.â
Bobbieâs diagnosis came after he found what he thought was a lump in his left testicle but having then been told there was nothing there he asked to be referred as he was concerned something still wasnât right.
An ultrasound scan at Addenbrookeâs Hospital picked up something in his other testicle and on further investigations it was discovered that Bobbie did have testicular cancer. Shortly after diagnosis, Bobbie underwent surgery to remove his right testicle and he was given the all-clear.
Early diagnosis prevented him having to undergo any other forms of treatment such as chemotherapy and now Bobbie is keen to give back to Addenbrookeâs, whose staff, he said, were amazing.
âWhen I woke up in the recovery room after surgery, I was talking to one of the nurses and she had a few things going on in her life and she looked visibly upset and I just thought, she is still coming in to help people even though she still has her own stuff going on, so if I can raise awareness and raise some money for Addenbrookeâs at the same time that would be great.â
Studio owners Kyle Warwick and Alex Hugianu were keen to support Bobbieâs fundraising efforts and opened their studio up for a charity flash day, producing a short film to talk about Bobbieâs story and promote the day. The video can be viewed below.
Kyle, who started out as a graffiti artist before becoming a tattoo artist, gained notoriety after his tribute to British physicist, Stephen Hawking, on a permission wall in Cambridge caught the attention of local media.
He usually gets booked up five to six months in advance and has customers coming to see him from across the UK, including firefighter, Ray, who was adding Kyleâs drawing of Kasabianâs Serg on his leg after an earlier design by Kyle showcasing football manager JĂŒrgen Klopp.
Alex, whose designs are described as âblack and grey geometricâ, started tattooing in Romania, aged 14. Welcoming the chance to give back to Addenbrookeâs she said: âWe are all really excited about the charity flash day and just want to help however we can.â
If you would like to make a difference and fundraise for ACT, click here for a selection of events you can sign up to. Alternatively, email: fundraising@act4addenbrookes.org.uk  Â
Here, James Stevens, Founder and CEO of Cambridge Commodities, which provides nutritional ingredients across a variety of industries, talks about the positive impact that fundraising has had on his staff.
James, who founded his company working out of his parentsâ spare bedroom at just 21 years of age, has since grown the company to the size it is today â with a global workforce of 170 staff, with offices in Ely, Sacramento and the Netherlands.
The company, however, didnât start raising money for charity until its 20th year.
âI really wanted to raise ÂŁ20,000 for charity in our 20th year so started looking for a charity. Somebody wrote down Addenbrookeâs Charitable Trust and it just stood out. Itâs the perfect charity for a business of our location and size and it touches the hearts of every single member of staff. We all know someone who has either been admitted to the hospital or visited somebody there. All my children were born in the Rosie.â
Addenbrookeâs Charitable Trust (ACT) is the official charity for Addenbrookeâs and the Rosie hospitals, and money raised by our supporters help make the hospitals even better by funding cutting-edge research, innovations and high-tech equipment, above and beyond what the NHS is able to provide.
One of the reasons for picking ACT as its charity was to be able to see the direct impact of all their fundraising efforts, James says – something that has happened on several occasions already with different members of staff, including Emily, the firmâs EU Account Manager, whose two-year-old Ayda was born in the Rosie just after Christmas.
Emily had helped other members of staff to wrap Christmas presents which ACT funded to be distributed to patients on Christmas Day. Emily, who had been booked to have a C-Section on New Yearsâ Eve, went into labour early and was admitted to the Rosie on Christmas Eve.
âI was in hospital on Christmas Day waiting to give birth so I received one of the Christmas presents that ACT had funded; some hand cream and body lotion, which was a really thoughtful present. Something like that just makes you feel supported and reassured that people are thinking of you and trying to make you feel better about being in hospital over Christmas, when you donât want to be.â
Another member of staff to see the direct impact of their fundraising efforts was Natalie Scott Paul, the firmâs Head of Payroll, who organises the Annual Christmas Ball with finance manager Carly Purell.
âAs one of our things we wanted to do, staff chose to pay the salary of a play therapist. That year my daughter was admitted to Addenbrookeâs, and the play therapist came to see her while she was waiting to be seen. I texted everyone at work and said, âwe did that!ââ
Staff have taken part in, or organised, a range of activities or events â from wrapping Christmas presents for patients to competing in the Cambridge Half Marathon to handing out daffodils to hospital staff at Easter.
âWe were handing out daffodils to staff as they were leaving work for the day,â James said, âand to see the smiles on their exhausted faces, you cannot describe how good that feels. To see them all leaving and to be able to say thank you is amazing. I think we all had a little cry when we got home that day.â
The firm has organised other events themselves – from cake bakes to a cyclathon (24 hours of cycling); a Walking Challenge where staff had to walk the equivalent in miles from their office in Ely to their office in Sacramento (over 5,000 miles which they managed to more than double) as well as their annual Christmas Ball, which after five years is soon expected to top half a million pounds raised.
ACTâs Corporate Partnerships Manager Natasha Robertson said companies who would like to join forces with the charity can get involved in a number of different ways, from making one-off donations to choosing ACT as its Charity of the Year.
âMost of the companies that we work with have a connection with the hospitals and find fundraising a really worthwhile, bonding experience. Employees can organise their own fundraising events or take part in some of the fun events that we organise throughout the year, including the Dragon Boat Race and the Cambridge Half Marathon.â
âWe have a diverse range of companies across sectors that are fundraising on our behalf and as we continue to grow.â
As for James, he says fundraising gives his staff an enormous sense of pride as well as helps him get to know employees in areas of the business he wouldnât normally interact with. It also helps with recruitment.
âWe have people saying they chose us as an employer because we had a relationship with a charity.â
For any company thinking of becoming a corporate supporter for ACT, James has this to say, âYou just need to find the time to do it but that time is paid back in spades through the happiness of your staff.â
Find out more about our corporate partnerships here. If your company is able to support ACT and is looking to make a real difference, please email Natasha at: Natasha.Robertson@act4addenbrookes.org.uk.
Click here to find out more about fundraising for the hospital.
