The Bone Cancer Research Trust is delighted to receive vital funding from The National Lottery Community Fund ‘Awards for All’ to help our support service connect people affected by primary bone cancer.
The charity will use the £19,450 to put on three in-person support events across England. It will also support the running of their Virtual support events, helping to bring people together online. The money will also contribute towards the marketing and promotion to help raise awareness of these events, so they are more accessible.
In the first half of 2025 the charity has seen 154 new users of the Support and Information service, with 187 of those people accessing their digital support groups. In 2025, there has been 58 attendees at their in-person events.
Our in –person events called ‘Get Togethers’ provide a valuable opportunity for members of the bone cancer community to meet face-to-face — including patients currently undergoing or recently completing treatment, long-term survivors, as well as family members and carers.
A recent Bone Cancer Research Trust ‘Get Together’ in Cambridge, saw 16 attendees connect and share experiences in a safe and welcoming space. They were also joined by guest speaker, Dr Liz O’Riordan, who is also a Patron of the Bone Cancer Research Trust. Liz delivered an inspiring talk and Q&A about her journey from healthcare professional to a cancer patient herself and finally to carer for her own mother following a diagnosis of primary bone cancer.
Ruby Campbell, Support Service Development Manager, shared:
We’re incredibly grateful to have received this generous grant, which allows us to continue supporting our service users and the wider families affected by primary bone cancer. With this funding, we were able to host a summer Get Together in Wigan - a wonderful family-friendly day filled with sunshine, food, and outdoor games that brought the North West’s primary bone cancer community together. In October, we also held a Get Together in Cambridge, where attendees enjoyed a cosy Q&A and group discussion. This grant will also help us sustain our much-loved virtual peer support events (Virtual Cuppas) and introduce even more engaging experiences — including an interactive, Christmas bauble decorating Virtual Cuppa session coming soon.
Ruby added:
With the help of this vital National Lottery community funding, our service is reaching people affected by rare primary bone cancer, helping them feel less alone and more connected to the bone cancer community who truly understands their journey. We’re excited to plan even more Get Togethers throughout 2026!”
Sally Saunders, a former bone cancer patient, attended the Cambridge Get Together and shared:
It was really good to meet other patients and their families. I find it helpful to talk with other bone cancer survivors - in particular those who are further along in their recovery. I hope too that I might be able to provide reassurance to newly diagnosed patients.
She added:
Receiving a cancer diagnosis is traumatic and with a rare type of cancer, things can feel very lonely. The Bone Cancer Research Trust have been fantastic at providing support and giving me opportunities to connect with other patients. The Peer Support Groups are vital in facilitating this.
Sally is pictured above at the Cambridge Get Together, alongside our patron Dr Liz O'Riordan and other family, friends and service users.
The new funding from The National Lottery Community Fund, which distributes money raised by National Lottery players for good causes and is the largest community funder in the UK, will also help ensure the charity can continue running its monthly ‘Virtual Cuppa’ sessions. These friendly, informal online gatherings bring together patients, families, parents, carers and their loved ones from across the UK, offering a chance to connect, share experiences, and feel part of a supportive community, no matter where they live.
Find out more information about the Bone Cancer Research Trust ‘Get Togethers’ and Virtual Cuppas
