The Grace Kelly Childhood Cancer Trust was founded in memory of my 4-year-old daughter, Grace, who passed away just a few weeks after her first day at school. Grace was a kind and caring little girl, always looking after others before herself. The Grace Kelly Childhood Cancer Trust was founded to continue Grace’s wish.
After a short illness, Grace died on 8th November 2014. In the midst of overwhelming grief, fundraising offered a small sense of comfort to myself, Grace’s Dad and other friends and family who became involved. At first, donations were made through online pages set up in her memory. Almost a year later, in September 2015, the Grace Kelly Ladybird Appeal was born – starting with the sale of awareness pin badges at the roadside, alongside home-grown courgettes.
Over the following 19 months, with the support of our community, we raised:
- £9,024 for Birmingham Children’s Hospital, Help Harry Help Others, Children with Cancer UK and CLIC Sargent (now Young Lives vs Cancer)
- £20,035 for Acorns Children’s Hospice
- £44,490 for the Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group (CCLG), after setting up a named fund with them – the Grace Kelly Ladybird Appeal
Christmas Jumpers
In 2015, we launched our very first campaign, “Christmas Jumpers”. The response was overwhelming, with schools, businesses and local groups rallying behind us. Over 50 different events took place that Christmas, and from there, the appeal gathered momentum.
Our Mission
At the heart of our early mission was a desire to fund research into rare Rhabdoid Tumours, which is the cancer that Grace sadly had. At that time, very little research into that cancer type existed, meaning that Grace’s battle was lost before it began because there were no treatment options available for her type of cancer when she was diagnosed.
Although fundraising was of enormous help, we realised we wanted to do more than raise money for research alone – families also needed support and resources. Childhood cancer is still not widely understood, and the signs and symptoms often go unrecognised. Our medical backgrounds gave us the confidence to act – we knew that clear, reliable parent information was desperately needed. When Grace was diagnosed, we were handed the name of her tumour type scribbled on the back of an envelope. There were just no resources available in the UK for parents in our position.
Registering our Charity
In June 2016, after assembling a board of trustees, writing a constitution and navigating the paperwork, the Grace Kelly Childhood Cancer Trust became a registered charity. We are especially grateful to our founding trustees – including our current Chair, Vic Billings – for their faith, support and expertise during those formative years. I am truly grateful for her time, support, reassurance and all she has done since the charity was founded. I will be forever grateful to her for being a pillar of strength.
Early Beginnings
The early days were full of learning. For three years, the charity was run from my dining room table until we finally grew enough to move into a small office in 2019. Our first website was a labour of love (and a steep learning curve in self-taught website building!) https://jbrittcompton.wixsite.com/gracekellyladybird.
Around this time, we also welcomed our first member of staff, Michelle.
In January 2019, we changed our name officially to the Grace Kelly Childhood Cancer Trust to better reflect our mission. By then, our campaigns had evolved (our early graphics were made in Paint and PowerPoint!), and in 2020 we gave our communications a fresh new look.
Our Family Support Service
Just as we settled into our first office, the pandemic struck. Families of children with cancer were suddenly told to shield, leaving many without access to basic supplies. Our team shifted overnight, sourcing and delivering essentials such as food, cleaning products and toiletries. Through doorstep conversations, we realised how isolated many families were – some went weeks without seeing anyone outside their household. It was this experience that inspired the creation of our Family Support Service.
In September 2021, we welcomed our first Family Support Worker, Sarah Tarry, who has since grown the service into a dedicated team of four. Today, they provide compassionate, practical support to families across Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Gloucestershire – ensuring no family has to face childhood cancer alone.
Our Accreditations
As the Trust has grown, so too has its professional recognition. In July 2021, we were awarded accreditation by the Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC) – a hallmark of quality in research funding. This means that every pound we raise for research goes further, boosted by government support through the Charity Research Support Fund.
Later that same year, we achieved PIF TICK accreditation, the UK’s only quality mark for trustworthy health information, assuring families and professionals that our materials are accurate, evidence-based and accessible.
Grace’s Legacy so Far
Today, Grace’s legacy shines brightly and continues to grow. I know that she would approve of all that has been achieved to date, but also that she would want us to continue to reach more families and continue to help change the lives of children in the future.
Grace’s legacy is not just in terms of funds raised, but in the impact of what we have achieved:
- Over 3 million families reached with our signs and symptoms awareness cards
- A further 90,000 medical professionals have been reached with our cards, created for clinicians (either paper cards or by GP training provider materials)
- Almost £679,000 of research funding has been awarded to vital projects which will help save the lives of children with aggressive childhood cancers. Projects awarded through our specialist Research Advisory Panel.
- Provided £200,000 of financial support for families
- Provided face-to-face support in homes and with hospital visits, to over 500 families.
- 20 different publications written for parents and children with over 60,000 copies ordered by medical care settings, hospices, schools and families to date.
- Four further publications written for professionals, along with awareness blogs, medical education journals and learning materials for professionals.
- Developed and run an international online support group for families affected by rhabdoid tumours.
From roadside selling of badges to national recognition, the Trust has come a long way. As we prepare to move into larger premises in 2025, our message remains clear, to ensure that no family faces childhood cancer alone, to fund world-class research, and to continue raising awareness of the signs and symptoms of childhood cancer.
Grace’s legacy is not only measured in funds raised, but in lives touched, families supported and futures changed. And I know she would want us to keep going – reaching further, helping more families, and continuing to bring hope where it is needed most.
