Help Cure
Part of Harry’s mission was to raise funds to help brain tumour research and projects which looked at finding a cure for brain tumours.
Currently, brain tumour research makes up just 1% of the national spend on cancer research and yet across the UK, more children and people under the age of 40 die of a brain tumour than any other cancer. Our team of field specialists advise us on those brain tumour researchprogrammes whose work can help reverse this trend.
Currently, brain tumour research makes up just 1% of the national spend on cancer research and yet across the UK, more children and people under the age of 40 die of a brain tumour than any other cancer. Our team of field specialists advise us on those brain tumour researchprogrammes whose work can help reverse this trend.Brain tumour statistics
Whilst brain tumours are more common with increasing age, they are significant in children and young adults, since they make up a greater proportion of all cancers in this age group and are often difficult to treat. Cancer is the most common cause of death from disease in children, and brain tumours are the most common solid tumours in this age group. Around 1 in 700 children are diagnosed with cancer, and so most children will know of someone who has it from school.
In general, brain tumours become more challenging to treat with increasing age, with around 50% surviving for more than 5 years of those under 40 years of age. For malignant brain tumours in all ages, around 15% live more than 5 years.
Whilst there have been impressive improvements in the outcome of children with cancer, with around 75% projected to become long-term survivors now, compared with only 10% about 60 years ago, these improvements have not been matched for children with brain tumours, with about 60% becoming long-term survivors. Due to this, brain tumours are now the most common cause of death from cancer in children and young people. Many brain tumours are readily treatable; however, some have an inferior outcome with almost no survivors. Clearly, we have a long way to go in brain tumour research to both understand and treat these diseases.
Donate to support Help Harry Help Others Help Cure cancer
HelpCURE Research Grants
Through our HelpCURE programme, Help Harry Help Others is proud to invest in people, not just projects. We consider grant applications that support and sponsor PhD students and early-career researchers, recognising that today’s researchers are the leaders, innovators and change-makers of tomorrow. By investing in individuals at this critical stage of their careers, we help shape the future of brain tumour research, cancer research, care and support for generations to come.
Our approach reflects a strong belief that people are our legacy. While we do not fund equipment or consumables, we focus our resources on empowering talented researchers with the time, opportunity and stability they need to develop their work, collaborate globally and drive meaningful progress in cancer research. This investment in people ensures long-term impact—supporting not only scientific advancement, but the evolution of knowledge, compassion and care for those affected by cancer in the future.
How do I apply?
Applicants should apply in writing, outlining the research question and its relevance to cancer, the proposed PhD project and methodology, the supervisory team and training environment, a clear budget and timeline, and the anticipated impact on patients or clinical practice. Applications should also briefly explain why HelpCure funding is essential and how the student will be supported to successfully complete the PhD, and must be no longer than two A4 pages.
