Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group (CCLG) and Leeds-based charity Candlelighters collaborated last week to showcase young people’s cancer research for parents and families.
The CCLG Research Discovery Day on 1 October, at The University of Leeds, welcomed parents of children diagnosed with cancer, survivors and fundraisers, who heard top experts share ongoing research aimed at improving the future for children and young people with cancer.
Dr Sarah Evans, Head of Research at CCLG, said:
Events like the CCLG Research Discovery Day are so important for families because they provide an opportunity to connect with the research that is shaping the future of childhood cancer care.
It’s not just about understanding the science, but also offering hope through meeting the people driving change and discovering how their work could impact children’s lives.
The family focus of the event was highlighted by the first speaker, Scott Crowther, whose youngest son Ben died from rhabdomyosarcoma in June 2019 at just seven years old. Ben’s parents, Scott and Sarah, set up Pass The Smile For Ben, a Special Named Fund at CCLG, to raise money for research into rhabdomyosarcoma.
Driven by the need for less toxic and more successful treatments, something they were confronted with during Ben’s treatment, Scott and Sarah wanted to fund research that could offer hope to families like theirs. Thanks to their amazing work, Ben’s fund has now supported six vitally important research projects. Wanting to impact the field of childhood cancer research further, Scott is also a committed advocate for patients and families in research both nationally and internationally.
Scott said:
I was delighted to speak today. Hearing about our kids really helps scientists understand the impact of their work, and I hope it also helps the other families to hear our story and about how we are trying to drive research. It's essential that this sort of event carries on happening.
There was a good blend of scientific presentations, but in an accessible way that wasn’t too complicated. It was also nice to get a perspective on research that’s not just around new drugs - there was quite a lot of talk about survivorship and how patients can benefit from new treatments that might reduce side effects and toxicities in the future.
Dr Evans added: “Hearing about Ben and the challenges he faced showed why childhood cancer research matters so much - not just for scientific advancement, but for the real-world impact it can have on the lives of children and their parents.”
Attendees heard from experts like Professor Steven Clifford, Director of the Newcastle University Centre for Cancer, and Professor Bob Phillips, Head of The Candlelighters Supportive Care Research Centre - a key talking point for families on the day.
Caroline Gill, Head of Engagement at Candlelighters, said:
We were thrilled to take part in the day to help families affected by childhood cancer know that we are all determined to improve lives for children with cancer through funding quality research. We’re incredibly proud of the work that Professor Bob Phillips and his team are progressing at the Candlelighters Supportive Care Research Centre, which will make a tangible difference to the lives of children during and after their cancer treatment.
The CCLG Research Discovery Day reinforced the commitment of both CCLG and Candlelighters to ensuring that families remain central to childhood cancer research. By creating engagement between researchers and those with lived experiences, the charities are paving the way for new breakthroughs that not only fight cancer but also improve quality of life for young patients and survivors.