A message from the CEO
When I founded Lennox Children’s Cancer Fund in 1992, working out of the church office of West Ham Parish Church, I could never have imagined that 32 years later we would have raised nearly £20 million to support children with cancer and their families. From my own heartache, and that of my children, we can proudly say that my late wife Pamela their mother, would be extremely proud of the incredible work we have accomplished over the past three decades.
It hasn’t always been easy, and this year has been particularly challenging for individuals and businesses alike. With so much uncertainty caused by ongoing wars, economic recessions, and changes in government, there were moments when we worried about the impact on our fundraising efforts and the services we provide to our families. However, the incredible support we have received throughout the year has enabled us to continue all our services and extend help to even more families.
Our team continues to work tirelessly to support families day and night, while also driving our fundraising efforts. Each one of them is as passionate and committed to helping these families as I am, and I am deeply proud of their dedication.
I want to personally thank all our supporters, donors, and volunteers. From grant-giving trusts, individuals, and businesses to community groups, schools, and colleagues – without your generosity, we would not be able to help these incredible children and their families during the most traumatic times of their lives.
We are forever grateful for your support and look forward to working with you again in 2025.
Vincent Fitzmaurice
CEO and Founder
Achievement
This year, we sent 2,864 gifts to families affected by childhood cancer.
Our Focus – Time for Families
This year, we have focused on bringing families together and creating opportunities for them to connect with other families for peer-to-peer support. We held 14 events throughout the year – double the number we organised in 2023.
Our monthly Saturday morning Share Our Strength (SOS) groups and Buddy Up groups have become a firm favourite among our families, with up to 15 families attending each session. When we first launched in 2023, just two families took part.
Each SOS or Buddy Up group is unique, offering families the chance to enjoy fun, friendship, and memory-making activities. Highlights have included arts and crafts, donkey days, penguin feeding, princess parties, a Halloween party, sports days, pumpkin carving, and Christmas card decorating. We’ve also hosted special events such as Breakfast with Santa, our Party for Heroes—which welcomed 138 children—and our Christmas party, attended by 143 children and their families.
These events are truly invaluable, providing families with a brief but meaningful escape from the challenging realities of their child’s diagnosis.
In 2024, our charity partnership with Ferrovial Construction UK
was extended for another year, and we were delighted to be chosen as charity partners by Hiscox Insurance, Direct Corporate Risks, Morgan Sindall Construction, and ERB Insurance. We are in our last years partnership with CIBC and are so grateful for the last three years
We also collaborated with Lakeside, Bluewater, High Chelmer, The Brewery, Towngate Theatre, Victoria Shopping Centre, and First Bus to promote our Go Gold, Shine Bright campaign during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in September.
New partnerships were forged with Synonymous and Tec Supplies, leading to exciting events such as An Evening with Boxing and the Tec Supplies Charity Football Cup. These remarkable collaborations have helped us reach new audiences, elevate our charity’s profile, and secure vital funding to support families navigating the challenges of childhood cancer.
The generosity and enthusiasm of our partners continue to inspire us, enabling us to make an even greater impact in the lives of the children and families we support.
Achievement
This year, we funded 118 hours of professional counselling.
Emotional Support
We launched a new out-of-hours helpline so that families who might be busy with hospital appointments and caring for their children during the day, can speak to us at a time that is more convenient for them.
Having this dedicated helpline has helped families contact us and get the help they need as soon as they need it. It has made an invaluable difference to the EIMS part of our Emotional Support project since it was launched in early 2024.
Our backpacks are within the hospitals and are given to newly diagnosed children and these are available in London and Essex Hospitals.
Our Treasure boxes are still helping young people find comfort, confidence and a way to express their emotions through play and art therapy.
Rosie-Mae was a happy little 4 and half year old when she was diagnosed with retinoblastoma – cancer of the eyes.
The doctor said she thought it could be cancer. Our hearts were broken and we hoped she was wrong. When we got that final confirmation our lives completely turned upside down. We had to try and act normal for our little girl and try not to scare her, and I had to keep calm as I was 4 months pregnant with her baby sister. We didn’t know what to tell Rosie-Mae. How can you tell a 4 year old that she has cancer? So we just told her she had a poorly eye.
Rosie-Mae started treatment at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London, which involved overnight stays, while her brother Christopher stayed at various family member’s houses. She has had many, many appointments, scans, tests and injections. She has recently finished her chemotherapy treatment and is now just being monitored to make sure the cancer doesn’t return.
Throughout Rosie-Mae’s journey, her family were supported by the wonderful hospital staff, and Lennox Children’s Cancer Fund.
Helen from Lennox was definitely an angel sent to me. She is such an amazing lady. She checks on me and my family regularly, she’s put us forward for a respite holiday and she’s been there to listen to me talk and even cry. She just over all makes you feel better when talking to her and she’s always there whenever you need her. Lennox is such a small charity and yet it has a huge heart. The help they give is unreal. Everyone that has come into our lives since Rosie-Mae’s diagnosis has become like family and I cannot thank them enough for all the hard work that they do for my family and myself.
Achievement
This year, we provided over 178 hours of emotional support through our out-of-hours helpline.
Respite and Financial Support
Over 200 families have enjoyed some time away together at one of our respite holiday homes. These breaks are incredibly important for families to relax, recharge and reconnect
Thank you for letting us stay in your beautiful cottage, it is so lovely and cosy. The children loved their bedrooms and Emily and I watched DVDs together in bed cuddled up. We had everything we needed and more. Our lives with Emily having so many hospital/rehab appointments is busy and hectic so this is just what we needed to slow down and rest. Thank you to everyone that makes this possible. It is so appreciated and makes a big difference to people’s wellbeing. Thank you so much.
The financial support we provided for our families really does mean they don’t have to choose between paying a utility bill, get their child to hospital for life saving treatment or put food on the table. With the cost-of-living crisis still affecting many families this lifeline of support is crucial to our families, since January we have given out £51,941 in grants.
We just want to say, a huge thank you for the grant you have sent. You are honestly like our guardian angels that pull us through the hardest of times. This grant will enable us to go on our little holiday to create even more memories and forget the madness & sadness of life. We are so, so, grateful to you all, to you as a charity. Thank you so very much.
Our community support group and family support helpline provide that all important ear to listen, shoulder to cry on or friend to chat with 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Through our EIMS project we are able to fund private counselling sessions. This year we have funded 118 individual counselling sessions to support the wellbeing of our families.
Achievement
This year, we gave out £51,941 in care and crisis grants.
Our Impact
Now and again families find time to let us know how the difference Lennox has made to their life. When they say ‘thank you’, they are not just thanking our team, they are thanking every donors, partner, fundraiser, volunteer, and champion that help us keep our services and projects available year after year.
Thank you. Thank you so much for all your help and chats xxx
Lennox has been amazing to us. We always know they are a phone call away and are there for support. With the anxiety that the diagnosis and treatment brings, it’s essential, especially to me, to have this support.
Lennox provided us with a break away at their holiday lodge and I can’t explain how wonderful it was to have that time away as a family, to just have fun, and to see George able to finally swim with his sibling and to start to create happier memories together. It was over new year too so felt extra fitting to turn the page. We are so grateful to Lennox for providing this time for us to enjoy together.
Alfie’s initial response was very resistant prior to his counsellor’s first visit. However, it’s gone fantastically well. He usually struggles so much with meeting new people and talking about things – well, he chews his counsellor’s ear off! Although we had to delay two visits as we were all ill, he’s had two sessions so far and we couldn’t be happier… thank you so much for making this happen. It will be such a benefit for Alfie and is much needed after all he’s gone through.
The phone calls and offers of support I still receive from them, mean more than I think they realise. Lennox understand that just because treatment has finished, lives don’t go back to how they were before cancer reared its ugly head.
Thank you!
A big thank you to everyone who has supported us this year, whether through donations, volunteering, or simply sharing our work. Your generosity has made a huge difference, enabling us to help these incredibly brave children and their families. We are forever grateful for your support.
Your involvement is what makes our work possible, and we appreciate each and every one of you.
As the new year approaches, our Lennox team wishes you and your loved ones a happy and healthy new year!
We look forward to your continued support in 2025.
