Charities and partnerships
Below are the four UK-based charities working with people during and after cancer treatment. Each of these four charities will receive 1/5 of the funds raised, with the final portion of funds going to a fifth charity local to the region that Luke is travelling through. Details of these regional partners can be found below.
Young Lives vs. Cancer (formerly known as CLIC Sargent) fights tirelessly to stop cancer destroying young lives. They work hard to help when each child and young person needs it most.
Trekstock gets young adults in their 20s and 30s moving again physically, socially and psychologically after cancer has stopped them in their tracks.
5k Your Way, Move Against Cancer provided by MOVE charity is a community-based initiative to encourage those living with and beyond cancer, families, friends and those working in cancer services to walk, jog, run, cheer or volunteer at a local 5k Your Way parkrun event on the last Saturday of every month.
Around seven young people aged between 13 and 24 are diagnosed with cancer every day in the UK. They need expert treatment and support from the moment they hear the word ‘cancer.’ We’re the only charity dedicated to making this happen.
Regional partner charities:
Leg 5 Regional Partner for Leg 5 whilst in India
After crossing the Pakistan/India border near Amritsar in Punjab, and again after re-entering the country from Bangladesh by Dawki in Meghalaya, Bristol2Beijing has partnered with CanKids KidsCan, the only National NGO dedicated to Change for Childhood Cancer in India across the continuum of care. Today, they work in partnership with 121 Cancer centres which treat over 12,000 new childhood cancer cases every year. In addition, CanKids also runs ten ‘Home away from Homes’ - a low-cost model where the children with cancer and their families can stay while they are undergoing treatment, one Paediatric Palliative Care Centre, and two Canshala's, or Schools for children with cancer.
For more information, see: cankidsindia.org
Leg 5 Regional Partner for Leg 5 whilst in Pakistan, from Islamabad to the Pakistan/India border
Together with its sister institution in Peshawar, Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre in Lahore, Pakistan, provides state-of-the art cancer care facilities and financially supports treatment for over 75% of deserving patients for the past twenty-seven years. Both the hospitals have earned the Joint Commission International’s Gold Seal of Approval for Hospital Accreditation, a 3rd party validation that the charitable organisation is providing free cancer treatment services to underprivileged people in line with international standards.
One fifth of funds raised from 15th November until Luke crosses the border into India will be dedicated to Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, supporting their important work in eastern Pakistan and nationally.
For more information, see: shaukatkhanum.org.pk
Regional Partner for Leg 4 (Buhkara to Islamabad)
BEARR has been working for 30 years to improve the health and social welfare of vulnerable groups in countries of the former Soviet Union. Their work with local partners spans across Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Specifically, this portion of funds will support BEARR’s Small Grants Scheme, which gives small, community-based voluntary and charitable organisations a chance to try out new approaches to health issues, and to share the results with others.
For more information, see: bearr.org
Regional Partner for Leg 3 (Chișinău to Bukhara)
ChildAid to Eastern Europe works with local partners in Belarus, Moldova, Siberia and Ukraine to create life changing hope and opportunities for children living with disabilities, orphans, those living in vulnerable families and those living with the consequences of conflict.
Funds raised during leg 3 will support one project in Moldova (Tony Hawks Centre) and one in Ukraine (Little Lighthouse).
For more information, see: childaidee.org.uk
Regional Partner for Leg 2 (Calais to Chișinău) and for Leg 5 (whilst in Bangladesh)
Over 300,000 children worldwide develop cancer each year. In low and middle income countries, survival rates can be as low as 10%.
World Child Cancer is dedicated to addressing the disparity of cancer care for children across the world. We believe that every child, no matter where they are born should have equal access to the best possible treatment and care.
Funds raised during Leg 2 in Europe supported World Child Cancer’s program in Kosovo which provides training and education of healthcare professionals that are supporting children with cancer. Read Luke's reflection on his visit to the facility in Pristina.
Funds raised during Leg 5 in Bangladesh supported World Child Cancer’s work in Bangladesh that focuses on both improving paediatric oncology services across seven government hospitals and also improving the quality of life of children with cancer who unfortunately cannot be cured.
For more information see: worldchildcancer.org