About Us

Our history

Leukaemia UK was founded in 1977 by Derek Mitchell after his wife Isobel was treated for leukaemia at King's College Hospital in London. Originally named The Elimination of Leukaemia Fund, the charity supported the work of King's haematology department but grew to be able to offer grants to blood cancer specialists in hospitals across the UK.

Over the last 40 years we have helped to make groundbreaking changes to blood cancer care. Less than three decades ago, there were no beds dedicated to the care of leukaemia patients at King's and its haematology department was on the brink of closure.

Now, thanks to Leukaemia UK, there are four specialist blood cancer wards at King's, including the superb Leukaemia Treatment Suite which, fittingly, is named after our founder, Derek Mitchell.

Read more about our history here.

Our charity today

Many of the changes to blood cancer care pioneered by Leukaemia UK with King's are now routinely used by hospitals across the country.

Today Leukaemia UK is proud to be making a difference to people living with blood cancer by:

Funding essential emotional support
Offering vital help to ease financial worries
Funding innovative and effective research into better care and treatments for leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloma and other blood disorders.
Working closely with hospitals and clinicians to improve care, including funding additional staff, paying for ward and room refurbishments and buying new blood cancer care equipment.

Thanks to the generous support of individual fundraisers, payroll givers and family trusts, Leukaemia UK has made a significant and lasting difference to leukaemia treatment in the UK.

Leukaemia UK relies entirely on your voluntary donations. Find out how to support us continue our important work.

Latest

Corey's marathon challenge for his sister

For Corey, running the London Marathon 2019 is a not only a physical challenge but more importantly a personal challenge close to his heart. Having lost his sister to leukaemia at a very young age, Corey wanted take on this challenge in her memory.
Thousands of adults with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia to benefit from new treatment option

Thousands of adults with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia to benefit from new treatment option
My Husbands battle for Leukaemia.

Walk from Whitstable train station to Rainham Kent. 04/05/2019.
I would like to give something back to Kings College Hospital Haematology department. if it wasn't for the generous and hard work from the fundraising Leukaemia UK team the unit we attend would not be where it is today.
Royal Parks Half Marathon: October 2019

The Royal Parks Half Marathon is the capital’s biggest and best-loved half marathon. The stunning 13.1 mile route takes in the capital’s world-famous landmarks on closed roads, and four of London’s eight Royal Parks – Hyde Park, The Green Park, St James’s Park and Kensington Gardens.