Macmillan Cancer Support is one of the largest

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. * British national identity, the characteristics of British people and culture ...

charities A charitable organization or charity is an organization whose primary objectives are philanthropy and social well-being (e.g. educational, religious or other activities serving the public interest or common good). The legal definition of a cha ...

and provides specialist

health care Health care, or healthcare, is the improvement or maintenance of health via the preventive healthcare, prevention, diagnosis, therapy, treatment, wikt:amelioration, amelioration or cure of disease, illness, injury, and other disability, physic ...

, information and financial support to people affected by

cancer Cancer is a group of diseases involving Cell growth#Disorders, abnormal cell growth with the potential to Invasion (cancer), invade or Metastasis, spread to other parts of the body. These contrast with benign tumors, which do not spread. Po ...

. It also looks at the social, emotional and practical impact cancer can have, and campaigns for better

cancer care Oncology is a branch of medicine that deals with the study, treatment, diagnosis, and prevention of cancer. A medical professional who practices oncology is an ''oncologist''. The name's Etymology, etymological origin is the Greek word ὄγ ...

. Macmillan Cancer Support's goal is to reach and improve the lives of everyone affected by cancer in the UK.

History

The charity was founded 1911 as the Society for the Prevention and Relief of Cancer, by

Douglas Macmillan Douglas Macmillan (10 August 1884 – 9 January 1969) was an English civil servant, vegetarianism activist and founder of the Macmillan Cancer Support charity, now one of the largest charities in the UK. Early life and education Douglas Mac ...

following the death of his father from the disease. In 1924, the name was changed to the National Society for Cancer Relief, which it retained until 1989 when it was changed to Cancer Relief Macmillan Fund, later changed again to Macmillan Cancer Relief. From 5 April 2006, Macmillan Cancer Relief became known as Macmillan Cancer Support, as this more accurately describes its role in supporting people who have cancer. It has adapted the principles of being a "source of support" and a "force for change". As the National Society for Cancer Relief, the organization provided funding to support the work of the Breast Care and Mastectomy Association of Great Britain, which would later become

Breast Cancer Care Breast Cancer Care is the only specialist UK-wide charity in the UK providing care, support and information to anyone affected by breast cancer. The charity's headquarters are in London, with additional offices in Sheffield, Cardiff, and Glasgow. ...

. In 2023, Macmillan Cancer Support were listed as the top ranked charity in the United Kingdom in terms of which charities people would be likely to donate to tomorrow, according to YouGov’s UK Charity rankings 2023. It is governed by a

Board of Trustees A board of directors is a governing body that supervises the activities of a business, a nonprofit organization, or a government agency. The powers, duties, and responsibilities of a board of directors are determined by government regulatio ...

and Executive Management Team. The

charity Charity may refer to: Common meanings * Charitable organization or charity, a non-profit organization whose primary objectives are philanthropy and social well-being of persons * Charity (practice), the practice of being benevolent, giving and sha ...

head office Headquarters (often referred to as HQ) notes the location where most or all of the important functions of an organization are coordinated. The term is used in a wide variety of situations, including private sector corporations, non-profits, mil ...

is based in

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

. Macmillan Cancer Support merged with cancer information charity

Cancerbackup Cancerbackup was a UK charity that provided information and support for cancer patients and their families. Founded in 1984 as BACUP, the charity operated as an independent entity until 2008, when it merged with Macmillan. History Vicky Clemen ...

in 2008. Macmillan works in partnership with other cancer research organisations and is a partner of the

National Cancer Research Institute The National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI) is a UK-wide partnership between cancer research funders, which promotes collaboration in cancer research. Its member organizations work together to maximize the value and benefit of cancer research fo ...

. Macmillan is part of the Richmond Group of Charities, which is a coalition of 14 leading health and social care organisations in the voluntary sector.

Cancer Support

Macmillan Cancer Support supports local information and support centres, cancer support groups, benefits advisers and cancer support specialists, and can help with practical, medical, financial and emotional support. Macmillan provides information about cancer through its Information Standard website, free printed and recorded materials, telephone support line and over 170 local cancer information and support services nationwide. In 2023, their services reached and supported an estimated 2.3 million people affected by cancer.

Events

Macmillan hosts a series of annual fundraising events, which include running, golf, swimming, and cycling events. The most notable event is the

World's Biggest Coffee Morning Macmillan Coffee Morning (formerly World's Biggest Coffee Morning) is an annual fundraising event run by Macmillan Cancer Support where people across the UK host and attend Coffee Mornings in aid of Macmillan. Since 1990 it has raised over £31 ...

, which made £16.8 million in 2023, compared to £13.7 million in 2022. Macmillan also hosts other large fundraisers, including Brave the Shave, which raises over £4,000,000 each year, as well as their Mighty Hikes series, which raised £12.3 million in 2023, compared to £11.2 million in 2022.

References

External links

Macmillan Cancer Support website

About Macmillan Nurses
*Abou
Sober for OctoberLearning and Development
– resources for professionals and people affected by cancer. {{Authority control Health charities in the United Kingdom Cancer organisations based in the United Kingdom 1911 establishments in the United Kingdom Organizations established in 1911 Palliative care in the United Kingdom

History

Cancer Support

Events

See also

References

External links