We are proud to announce that our CEO, Dr Jen Kelly has been personally requested to join the first-ever taskforce for childhood cancer in history, a taskforce which will fight together to improve cancer care for children and young adults across the UK.
When a child is diagnosed with cancer, their parent’s world crumbles around them instantly. Childhood cancer is a life-changing diagnosis that affects the whole family.Â
Cancer is the biggest killer by disease of children and young people in the UK. One child in every 450 receives a diagnosis of cancer before their 15th birthday, and of these children, sadly 1 in 5 sadly do not survive. Cancer in children is very different to cancer in adults, yet until now, it has just been bolted onto adult cancer targets and not received the recognition it deserves.
This is about to change.
Mrs Atkins, the Health Secretary has announced her vow to ‘make child cancer care faster, simpler and fairer for all.’ She said that children will be given faster access to new treatments and earlier diagnosis under plans to beat childhood cancer through the development of a childhood cancer task force. This will be the first-ever task force for childhood cancer in history.
This taskforce will help bring together world-leading experts and those who have dedicated their lives to fighting cancer to discuss how we can go further faster and to drive progress in cancer care for children and young people.
Mrs Atkins, Health Secretary
The taskforce will be led by Dame Caroline Dinenage, a Conservative MP who started a campaign after being approached by her constituent Charlotte Fairall who sadly lost her 10-year-old daughter Sophie to sarcoma in 2021. It’s thanks to the tireless efforts of Dame Caroline Dinenage and Charlotte Fairall that this taskforce has been created and we’d like to thank them both for their incredible efforts in making this happen.
Through the collaborative efforts of Dame Caroline Dinenage and myself, we have tirelessly pursued meaningful change for children and young people battling cancer.Â
In memory of the inspiring Sophie Fairall, whose courageous spirit and heartfelt bucket list ignited our mission, we’ve worked diligently over the past two years to transform her dreams into impactful change.Â
Charlotte Fairall, Founder of Sophie's Legacy
Dame Caroline Dinenage, MP has written,
This taskforce presents an opportunity to take dedicated action on these cancers, working across organisations to unify and drive progress. It offers us the chance to meaningfully change how we detect, treat and care for children and young people with cancer… Thank you for your tireless efforts on behalf of children and young people with cancer. I look forward to working with you to progress this important initiative.
It is an honour to have been invited to join this taskforce at Westminster, which could do so much to improve survival rates for children with cancer. As a GP but also as a bereaved parent, this has become my life work to make a difference to all children with cancer, like Grace.
Thank you so much to Charlotte Fairall, Sophie’s Legacy for her tireless work in making this a reality and for her wonderful support of all the Grace Kelly Childhood Cancer Trust early diagnosis work. Together, Sophie, Grace and so many other children are helping us move mountains.
Dr Jen Kelly, CEO & Founder Grace Kelly Childhood Cancer Trust
By experts, organisations and politicians working together, we stand to achieve so much for in the fight against childhood cancer.
Because the children of today all deserve a tomorrow.
For interview opportunities please contact: sophieblount@gkcct.org
