Where your money goes

Why your support is so important

Last year Cancer Research UK spent an incredible £315 million on research into cancer, virtually all of it from public donations.

Thanks to people like you raising sponsorship, we’re able to continue this vital work.

Whether it’s a few pounds or thousands – every penny you raise soon adds up.

Progress so far

On average, ten-year survival rates have doubled since the 1970s.

Since it began in 1994, Race for Life has raised over £200 million, which has helped to bring about some real improvements in the outlook for people with cancer in the UK. Here are some examples:

Almost two thirds of women diagnosed with breast cancer now are likely to survive for at least 20 years. When Race for Life first started, fewer than half could expect to survive this long.
The death rate from bowel cancer has dropped by over a quarter in the last 14 years. That’s thanks to greater awareness, earlier detection and better treatments.
The incidence rate for cervical cancer has dropped by 30 per cent over the last ten years, largely due to screening. Cancer Research UK contributed to the development and improvement of cervical screening.

Into the future

We’ve set some ambitious goals for the year 2020 that we believe will make a real difference in preventing cancer and improving survival.

To help us get there, we’re aiming to increase our spending on research to £400 million by 2010, but we can’t do it without your help.