Why September is a special time for The Little Princess Trust

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month - a time to shine a light on childhood cancer and the research that helps cure more and more children.

Awareness of childhood cancer and its symptoms is crucial: it helps parents know when to speak to doctors and assists doctors who aren’t specialists in spotting early warning signs.

But once a child is diagnosed, what comes next? That’s where research steps in. Childhood cancer research is essential: it develops better, kinder treatments, uncovers the challenges families face, and increases our understanding of different cancers.

That’s why The Little Princess Trust has been funding research for nine years - to provide hope to families facing cancer. As a special mark of our 20th anniversary, we want to celebrate the incredible research your fundraising has made possible.

How much research do we fund?

In 2016, after fulfilling every wig request and still having funds remaining, we took the next step: funding childhood cancer research through a collaboration with CCLG, the Children & Young People’s Cancer Association. Our goal was to change the future for children with cancer, making it easier and safer to cure children.

Since then, we’ve funded more than 150 projects and given millions of pounds to scientists searching for more effective and kinder treatments. Our backing includes a donation of more than £2 million to support UK Experimental Cancer Medicine Centres. Every pound raised through wigs, events, and donations helps us turn awareness into research - and research into hope.

Do we fund all cancer types?

Although The Little Princess Trust was established in memory of Hannah Tarplee, who had a type of kidney cancer called Wilms tumour, we fund research into all cancer types.

Every child deserves the best chance of a cure which is why we always fund the very best projects available, wherever the need is greatest.

How do we know that our research matters?

Choosing the right projects is critical. That’s why we work closely with CCLG and follow the top 10 research priorities identified by families, survivors, and medical professionals through the Children’s Cancer Priority Setting Partnership.

After these priorities were published in 2023, we found out that all of our funded projects - going back to 2016 - fit within them.

Today, more than 100 projects are focused on the top priority: finding effective, kinder treatments for children with cancer.

Why are we talking about this now?

Awareness and research are two sides of the same coin. Without awareness, early diagnosis is harder, and fundraising - essential for research - is limited. Awareness drives action, action drives research, and research drives hope.

This Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, we celebrate the incredible support of our donors, volunteers, and community.

Because of you, children facing cancer have hope for kinder treatments, better care, and brighter futures. Together, awareness and research continue to make Hair and Hope a reality for every child.