In the 1970s, two young men David and Clive, found themselves with cancer and having to travel to London and Cambridge for treatment, often finding this harder than the treatment itself.
They vowed to do something so that local people would have access to the best treatment and support closer to where they live. 40 years on, their vision has become a reality, with over £32 million being raised so far and nearly £3 million raised each year by the local community, creating the largest cancer charity in East Anglia.
From its first small, but important fundraising project providing chemotherapy equipment at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital, Big C has grown into an impressive organisation which funds specialist life-saving equipment and internationally significant research projects based at the Norwich Research Park. These projects greatly benefit local people and have a global impact on our understanding and treatment of the many types of cancer.
The charity has also established three Big C centres located at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, in Kings Lynn and Great Yarmouth and a hub at the Louise Hamilton Centre in Gorleston. These centres provide an oasis of specialist emotional and practical support for those with a cancer diagnosis and their loved ones away from a clinical environment.