Action Medical Research

02/09/2026

Next on the list of challenges for Miles and his family as part of their Every mile for Miles - Helping others go further campaign?

The UK Running Events inflatable 5k this weekend as sister Xiana and mum Emily tackle the world's biggest inflatable 5km obstacle course!

They're on a mission to raise £10,000 for our work to save and change children's lives - click on the post below to find out more about Miles and his mission 💙

02/09/2026

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, a time to shine a light on the 1,900 children diagnosed with cancer in the UK every year. That's around five children every single day.

At Action Medical Research, we're funding research into more effective treatments for childhood cancers, including studies into childhood leukaemia, looking at drugs that block the survival of cancer cells, and pioneering approaches to treat rare and incurable childhood brain tumours.

Every project we fund brings us closer to a future with better, gentler treatments and fewer childhood cancer diagnoses.

💙 Find out more about the research we're funding to fight childhood cancer: https://action.org.uk/research/research-we-fund/childhood-cancer

24/08/2026

Among the riders taking part in our new Möntare ride will be Sarah Thompson, a partner at Keystone Law, and her husband Mike along with their 14-year-old son Johnny.

Read more below about their special reasons for taking part:

10 days to go until our Möntare riders set off from Penshurst Place in Kent for Paris to raise funds for sick babies and children.

This is our newest professional networking ride, combining an iconic cycling challenge with the chance to build lasting industry connections.

Over three supported days, riders will travel via Calais and Amiens before finishing at the Eiffel Tower, with a special final stage joined by cycling legend Lizzie Deignan!

Read more about this event - including one mother's special reason for riding - on our website: https://action.org.uk/latest-news/fundraisers-uk-professional-services-industry-take-cycling-challenge-childrens-charity

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24/08/2026

A blue plaque has been put up for Michael Bond at his former home... a fitting tribute to a wonderful man – and a fantastic bear 💙

We are incredibly proud to be Paddington Bear's favourite UK charity, after Michael met our founder 50 years ago. As his daughter Karen Jankel says, "The charity’s appeal was clear for my father. This was not about sticking a sticking plaster over a problem. It was about finding solutions, using science."

A blue plaque is set to be unveiled at the Haslemere home once lived in by Paddington Bear creator Michael Bond.

More here: https://bbc.in/4c0csdY

20/08/2026

Attention all supporters in Bucks! Begin your Christmas shopping early at our Autumn Gift Fair in Beaconsfield.

40+ stalls with clothing, cashmere, jewellery, home accessories, artisan produce, chocolates, cakes, Christmas cards and more.

Come and join us at Hall Barn, Beaconsfield.

The Autumn Gift Fair takes place on Friday 9 October 2026 from 10am – 3pm.

Admission is £8 and funds go towards life-changing medical research.

Find out more, including how to volunteer with us or book a stall, at https://action.org.uk/events/fairs/grand-autumn-fair

📷 Our wonderful Chiltern committee at the 2024 fair.💙

19/08/2026

Well done to Emily and Mark for completing the Scottish Half Marathon at the weekend to raise funds for vital research... and thanks to Miles for his fantastic Every mile for Miles - Helping others go further campaign to support our work.

We really appreciate all your efforts – good luck with the next challenges, Team Miles! 💙

17/08/2026

Thanks to our amazing supporters, we’ve been able to fund 12 new medical research projects so far in 2026, investing more than £2 million to help babies and children affected by a range of conditions.

These include:

- Seeking new treatments for Alpers’ syndrome
- Helping more children with epilepsy to live seizure-free
- Tackling a rising liver disease threat
- Funding three new studies into Ataxia Telangiectasia (A-T) with Action for A-T

Thanks to everyone who continues to support this vital work 🩷

12/08/2026

"We were told not to get used to her". Eleven years later, Sophia is still proving everyone wrong.

Sophia was born with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a rare genetic condition that causes progressive muscle weakness. When she was a baby, her parents were told she was unlikely to live beyond her first birthday.

Her dad Gennadiy remembers being told: "Take her home, love her, but don't get used to her."

But Sophia has spent her life proving the odds wrong.

Now 11 years old, she continues to amaze everyone around her. Access to a groundbreaking treatment has halted the progression of her condition and transformed her quality of life, giving her and her family hope for the future.

This Spinal Muscular Atrophy Awareness Month, we're celebrating children like Sophia and highlighting the importance of research that can change lives.

A few years ago, Action Medical Research and Spinal Muscular Atrophy UK funded research at Keele University into a potential new treatment for SMA.

Read Sophia's inspiring story: https://action.org.uk/research/family-stories/sophias-story-spinal-muscular-atrophy

Learn more about the SMA research we funded: https://action.org.uk/research/spinal-muscular-atrophy-developing-potential-new-treatment

Phia Sophia - Life on the Edge

10/08/2026

We're looking forward to our Möntare ride next month when cyclists from across the professional services industry will be heading from London to Paris.

Sarah, a partner at Keystone Law, which is sponsoring the event, will be riding with her husband Mike and 14-year-old son Johnny, who was born at just 30 weeks.

"We felt incredibly lucky that Johnny just needed support and to be allowed time to develop," Mike says. "We remember the other babies who were in the NICU alongside Johnny, many of whom had far more serious conditions that will have led to long-term, possibly life-limiting, health conditions.

"This is why we feel it is important for us to fund raise for research into premature birth and neonatal care.

"Improving our understanding of what causes premature birth, and how neonatal care can be made more effective, are key to enabling healthcare teams to help families like ours."

You can read more about Johnny's journey here: https://action.org.uk/index%2Ephp/latest-news/fundraisers-uk-professional-services-industry-take-cycling-challenge-childrens-charity

Huge thanks to our partners Saffery, Keystone Law and Mewburn Ellis for making this ride possible.

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06/08/2026

Thanks to everyone who attended our latest Dine with Davina in support of Action Medical Research event in Essex last month and helped to raise more than £45,000.

Our incredible ambassador Davina McCall hosted an unforgettable afternoon of glamour and entertainment, all in aid of vital research to help save and change children’s lives.

Thanks to our event partners Fenwick, The Sisterhood Networking Group, Denise Smith Consultancy, and Essex Life.

It was also lovely to see The Amazing Aiden's parents Fleur and Keith at the event.

Davina McCall has been an amazing and steadfast supporter of Action Medical Research for the past 50 years – an enduring partnership that reflects both her personal commitment and her deep compassion for children and families affected by serious illness. What a superstar! 🤩

Missed the event in Essex? You can still join Davina in Southampton on 1 October - visit https://action.org.uk/events/social-events/dine-davina-southampton to find out more.