We need your help to create a state-of-the-art cancer research facility - right in the heart of Manchester, which will save lives and re-write the future of cancer.

Working together to beat cancer

At The University of Manchester, we've worked together with The Christie NHS Foundation Trust and Cancer Research UK for over a decade on cancer research. Now we're partnering once again to build a new cancer facility that will rank amongst the very best in the world. And we need your help to make it happen.

Re-writing the future of cancer

A state-of-the-art cancer research facility

Perhaps you'll remember the day in 2017 when the Paterson Building - home to much of Manchester's world-leading cancer research - burned down. It was a shock to all of us in the University community. To the scientists working there, it was devastating. Some of the most critical cancer research they were working on at the time was impacted.

But with true Manchester resilience, we're finding opportunity in the midst of adversity. Out of the ashes, we're aiming to build a new state-of-the-art cancer research facility that is twice the size of the dated Paterson Building.

With your help, we will bring together the largest concentration of scientists, doctors, patients and health professionals in Europe, all working together to tackle cancer head on. In this way, right here in Manchester, we will re-write the future of cancer through advances in prevention, early detection and treatment to benefit people around the world.

Cancer has not gone away

People around the world are currently feeling the devastating impact of the coronavirus pandemic. But for cancer patients and their families, cancer has not gone away. Over 160,000 people in the UK lose their lives to cancer every year.

Although a lot has changed in the past few months, our ambition to Re-write Cancer has not. But with cancer research disrupted for Manchester scientists for the second time in just three years, your support has never been so important.

Be part of something special

Every two minutes, someone in the UK is diagnosed with cancer. By fundraising for Re-write Cancer in the Virtual Purple Wave, you can be part of something very special.

Re-write Cancer is more crucial now than ever. Every pound you raise will be an important step towards creating this facility that could change - and even save - people's lives.

Find out more

You can find out more about our Re-write Cancer appeal here. And you can follow the University's fundraising team to find out how we are doing on our website, Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.

Help us re-write cancer

You can help us Re-write Cancer in many ways:

Fundraise for us by taking part in the University's first ever Virtual Purple Wave on Sunday 6 September. Just sign up for the Virtual Purple Wave and click the orange Start fundraising button on this page

Donate! You can do this by clicking the purple Donate button or by visiting our website

Please share this appeal - just click on the blue Share on Facebook button to get started

Thank you!

Fundraising Targets

There is no minimum fundraising target so you can set your own every single pound raised will make a difference.

If you would like some inspiration, however, 2020 would have been the fifth year that The University of Manchester entered a Purple Wave into the Great Manchester Run. Why not mark this should-have-been 5th anniversary of the Purple Wave with your fundraising? We can't wait to see what creative ways you find to incorporate the number five into your target. To get you started, here are some ideas we came up with:

You could set your target at £5 (or £50!) for every kilometre that you intend to cover;

Or £5 for every day of training that you intend to do;

Alternatively, to keep things really simple, you could simply set a £50 fundraising target (or maybe £500 for a team).

If you would like to talk through your target just get in touch with the Re-write Cancer fundraising team at supporters@manchester.ac.uk - they'll be happy to help.