2025: A year that felt different

From hosting community conversations to help shape England's cancer plan, to opening the doors at Macmillan's Open House, a space created with and for Black and South Asian communities to talk about cancer, culture, and everything in between. These are the moments that made 2025 feel different.

They remind me why we do this work. When you bring committed people together with different experiences, what you start can grow far beyond your wildest dreams.

This has been the year our new strategy started to come alive. We've been doing whatever it takes to give people the best support today and spark a revolution in cancer care for tomorrow. It's no longer just words on a page. It's tangible, changing lives every single day.

I feel incredibly privileged to lead Macmillan. Every day, I'm surrounded by thousands of passionate, determined colleagues, professionals, volunteers and partners who care deeply about making life better for people living with cancer.

That shared commitment is what drives us: making sure no one faces cancer alone, no matter who they are or where they live.

In 2025, we supported hundreds of thousands of people with cancer across the UK, each with their own story, fears, and hopes.

People like Carrol, who told us after calling our Support Line: "I'm now a complete support line convert. They were brilliant, really honest, and gave me the tools to find my voice and advocate for myself. My advice is to call the support line as soon as you get diagnosed."

Our Online Community has continued to flourish too, offering a safe space for people to read about others' experiences as well as chat, vent and lift each other up around the clock. Since the start of 2025, it has supported at least 330,000 people with cancer, even more than last year*.

We also welcomed 1,400 new healthcare professionals, including nurses, therapists, advisers, and counsellors, to our community of over 11,400 Macmillan-badged professionals across the UK*. These dedicated individuals provide expert, personalised care tailored to the needs of each person when it matters most.

Throughout the year I've had the privilege of meeting people who are struggling with the impact of cancer. Often those conversations make me angry, often sad, but they always make me more determined.

People like Filip, whose brother died after an emergency admission because he could not get time off work for screening or medical appointments. Or Judy, who is now cancer-free but living with late effects of treatment so severe she rarely leaves her home, and no one will take responsibility for her care because her case is too complex. Or Maya, who overcame huge stigma to talk to her doctor about her symptoms, only to be sent away without the referral she needed and diagnosed months later with late-stage cancer**.

Macmillan is supporting these people right now. But we know that if things worked better, they might not have needed us. That is why sparking a revolution in cancer care for the future is so critical.

Making sure voices are heard

Our work with decision makers and partners to change the bigger picture has been vital, and this year has been a turning point. From launching a new grant scheme in Northern Ireland to hosting culturally relevant cancer conversations on high streets, we've made sure the voices of people living with cancer are heard where decisions are being made.

Cancer care must be fair and accessible for everyone.

I've seen extraordinary resilience from colleagues who pour their hearts into their work, volunteers who show up rain or shine, fundraisers who climb mountains (literally), and our partners whose generosity and support continue to further our impact.

We've stepped up in 2025. We've shown that better is possible: better support for everyone living with cancer today, and better care for everyone who will be diagnosed tomorrow.

Thank you

To every person who has supported Macmillan this year, thank you. You have helped us make a real difference. for today and for the future.

And to the people living with cancer who trust us with your stories, your worries, and your hopes: it is an honour to stand alongside you.

There is still so much for us to do, and I'm excited for what we will achieve together in 2026. For now, I hope you can find time to rest and recharge over the festive season. You've earned it.

*Macmillan Cancer Support internal data

**Names changed to protect privacy