ROY CASTLE LUNG CANCER FOUNDATION

What ROY CASTLE LUNG CANCER FOUNDATION does

Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation is the only UK charity dedicated solely to lung cancer, founded in 1994 following the death of entertainer Roy Castle and headquartered in Liverpool. It serves people affected by lung cancer — patients, families, and healthcare professionals — through a portfolio of support services including a nurse-led helpline, information booklets (66,000+ pieces distributed annually), support groups, and online forums. The foundation also funds clinical research through fellowships and underpins awareness campaigns such as Let Go of the Labels, This is Lung Cancer, and #BreakTheSilence.

Name

ROY CASTLE LUNG CANCER FOUNDATION

Legal name

Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation

Website

https://roycastle.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation is the UK's only charity dedicated solely to lung cancer, providing nurse-led support, patient information, research funding, and awareness campaigns to patients, families, and clinicians.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cancer Support Services

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212)

akta.pro primary industry

Disease-Specific Research & Support (e.g., Cancer, Diabetes, ALS) (BPAGACAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Health & Medical Research Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAL)

Keywords

• Lung cancer support
• Cancer patient services
• Health awareness charity
• Cancer screening programs
• Patient information resources

Headquarters

HQ city

Liverpool

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Revenue model

1. Donations: The charity relies primarily on public donations, both one-time and regular monthly contributions. Suggested donation amounts include £10/month providing information to 48 newly diagnosed people, and £25 for one-to-one support calls.
2. Gifts in Wills: Legacy giving programme encouraging supporters to leave gifts in their Wills to fund future lung cancer support and research.
3. Corporate Partnerships: Sponsorship from pharmaceutical and medical technology companies for campaigns and awareness initiatives. Sponsors for This is Lung Cancer campaign include Intuitive Surgical Ltd, GSK, Bristol Myers Squibb, Roche, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Boehringer Ingelheim, AstraZeneca, and J&J.
4. Retail Volunteering and Merchandise: Retail volunteering opportunities and charity shops support fundraising efforts.
5. Fundraising Events: Registration fees and fundraising targets from events like The Big Skydive (£70 registration, £395 fundraising target) generate revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels14 records

Core offering

Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation is the only UK charity dedicated to supporting everyone affected by lung cancer. It provides a comprehensive suite of free services including a nurse-led helpline, printed and online information booklets, face-to-face and online support groups, a podcast series, and tailored information emails for patients and families. The foundation also funds clinical research fellowships, supports the NHS Lung Cancer Screening Programme, and runs national awareness campaigns to address stigma and promote early diagnosis.

Product overview

Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation is the only UK charity dedicated to supporting everyone affected by lung cancer. The organization provides a comprehensive suite of patient support services centered around its nurse-led helpline (0800 358 7200), supplemented by free information resources including lung cancer booklets, a Talk of Hope podcast, and a robotic-assisted surgery patient guide. The charity offers multiple support channels including face-to-face support groups, online support forums, and stop smoking services. Additional services include travel insurance assistance for cancer patients, lung health check navigation, and symptom checker tools. The organization also runs fundraising events (Du It! Virtual Duathlon, Defeat Delamere, The Big Skydive, 31 Miles in March, London Marathon) and clinical research fellowship programmes. The charity supports the NHS Lung Cancer Screening Programme and provides educational materials for healthcare professionals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Nurse-led Helpline Telephone support service available at 0800 358 7200, staffed by lung cancer nurses providing medical, practical, and emotional support to patients, families, and caregivers across the UK.
• Lung Cancer Information Booklets Free downloadable and print information resources covering lung cancer symptoms, diagnosis, treatment options, and living with cancer, available to patients, families, and healthcare professionals.
• Face-to-Face Support Groups In-person support services including local support groups and community engagement events for patients, families, and caregivers affected by lung cancer.
• Online Support Community Digital support including online forums, email newsletters, and tailored information emails for people affected by lung cancer.
• Talk of Hope Podcast Podcast series sharing patient stories, expert interviews, and discussions about living with lung cancer, providing hope and information to patients and families.
• Stop Smoking Support Resources and support services to help people quit smoking, addressing a key risk factor for lung cancer.
• Travel Insurance Service Specialized travel insurance assistance and holiday booking services for people living with lung cancer.
• Lung Health Checks and Screening Support Information and support for lung cancer screening programmes, including details of the NHS Lung Cancer Screening Programme and self-request chest X-ray services for at-risk individuals.
• Lung Cancer Symptom Checker An online tool to help users understand and recognize possible signs of lung cancer and determine appropriate next steps, available to the general public.
• Robotic-Assisted Lung Surgery Information Booklet Free patient information booklet explaining robotic-assisted surgery for lung cancer, covering procedures, benefits, risks, and recovery expectations for patients considering this treatment option.
• Fundraising Events Challenge events including Du It! Virtual Duathlon, Defeat Delamere, The Big Skydive, 31 Miles in March, and London Marathon participation, enabling supporters to fundraise on behalf of the charity.
• Clinical Research Fellowships Funding and programme support for clinical research fellowships in lung cancer, providing early-career clinicians and researchers with backing for lung cancer research.

Quantifiable outcome

• 66,000+ pieces of information distributed in 2024
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers23 records

Segments5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Skyline EventscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2026Partnership to deliver The Big Skydive event with 20 locations across the UK in August 2026. Skyline handles event logistics and registration.
• Public Health WalescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Supporting the Welsh Government's national lung cancer screening programme launching in 2027, targeting people aged 55-74 who smoke or have smoked. Estimated annual cost of £13 million.
• Intuitive Surgical LtdminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Sponsor of the This is Lung Cancer campaign spotlight week on robotic-assisted surgery. Intuitive manufactures robotic surgical systems used in lung cancer treatment.
• GSKminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Sponsor of the This is Lung Cancer campaign. GSK is a pharmaceutical company involved in cancer treatments.
• Bristol Myers SquibbminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Sponsor of the This is Lung Cancer campaign. Bristol Myers Squibb develops immunotherapy treatments for cancer.
• RocheminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Sponsor of the This is Lung Cancer campaign. Roche develops cancer treatments including targeted therapies.
• Regeneron PharmaceuticalsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Sponsor of the This is Lung Cancer campaign and provided grant support for the website. Regeneron develops medicines for serious diseases.
• Boehringer IngelheimminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Sponsor of the This is Lung Cancer campaign. Boehringer Ingelheim develops cancer treatments.
• AstraZenecaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Sponsor of the This is Lung Cancer campaign. AstraZeneca develops cancer treatments including immunotherapy.
• Johnson & Johnson (J&J)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Sponsor of the This is Lung Cancer campaign. J&J is involved in medical devices and pharmaceuticals.
• NHS EnglandcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation supports the NHS Lung Cancer Screening Programme, which has mobile CT scanning units in supermarket car parks and community locations. The programme aims to reach 6 million people by 2030, with over 10,000 lung cancers already detected.
• University of Glasgow and NHS CliniciansminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-designing CoChat, a collaborative chatbot using AI to empower patients and enhance self-management of lung cancer through conversational AI.
• University of BirminghamminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partnership for proposed trial on blood clots (venous thromboembolism) in lung cancer patients, seeking patient input on views regarding prevention treatment.
• National Lung Cancer Audit (NLCA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharity supports the NLCA team and helps shape report recommendations to improve care quality for people with lung cancer in England and Wales.
• United Kingdom Lung Cancer Coalition (UKLCC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUmbrella group of clinicians, charities and pharmaceutical companies working to improve lung cancer outcomes. Looking for experienced patient advocates.
• NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNICE recommendations for new treatments directly impact lung cancer patients. The foundation responds to and supports implementation of new guidance.
• Boots UKcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFollowing Jules Fielder's #BreakTheSilence campaign advocacy, Boots stores across the UK now stock lung cancer symptom awareness materials alongside cough medicines.
• UK Government / Health SecretarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCampaign work led to meeting with Health Secretary to discuss policy changes at the highest level for lung cancer awareness and early diagnosis.
• Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading NHS trust in robotic-assisted lung surgery. Surgeon Tom Routledge has seen hospital stays cut from 4 days to 2 days using robotic systems. Featured in foundation's surgical spotlight week.
• Morrisons SupermarketminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNHS mobile CT scanning units located in Morrisons supermarket car parks as part of community-based lung cancer screening programme.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• British Heart Foundation: One of the largest UK health charities, with broad cardiovascular focus and extensive retail and donation infrastructure. Peer as a larger, established health charity competing for the same UK individual donor, legacy and corporate partnership pools.

Direct peers

• Macmillan Cancer Support: One of the largest UK cancer charities, providing information, support and financial help to people affected by cancer. Direct peer as both organisations compete for cancer-specific donations, legacies, and pharma corporate partnerships across the UK.
• Asthma + Lung UK: UK charity focused on lung conditions, formed from the merger of British Lung Foundation and Asthma UK. Direct peer as it addresses overlapping lung disease patient populations and competes for similar donor and corporate partnership pools.
• Young Lives vs Cancer (formerly CLIC Sargent): UK charity supporting children and young people with cancer and their families. Direct peer for disease-specific cancer fundraising, volunteer networks, and information service delivery models tailored to a defined patient population.
• Cancer Research UK: The UK's largest cancer charity, funding research and running awareness campaigns across all cancer types. Direct peer for donations, legacies, and large-scale public awareness campaigns, with overlap on lung cancer research funding and policy advocacy.
• Mesothelioma UK: UK charity dedicated to supporting people affected by mesothelioma, a lung-related cancer. Direct peer as it operates in an adjacent thoracic cancer niche, sharing clinical networks, NHS engagement pathways, and pharma sponsorship pools.
• Marie Curie: UK charity providing care and support for people with terminal illness, including cancer. Direct peer on palliative/serious-illness support, end-of-life information, and competing for legacy giving within the UK charity market.
• Maggie's: UK charity providing free cancer support through centres located beside NHS hospitals. Direct peer as it offers in-person information and emotional support to people with cancer, overlapping on patient-facing services and healthcare professional referrals.

Emerging players

• Bowel Cancer UK: UK charity supporting people affected by bowel cancer and championing screening (the NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme). Peer as a disease-specific charity with a comparable screening programme partnership model and NHS-aligned awareness work.
• Pancreatic Cancer UK: UK charity dedicated to pancreatic cancer, another disease with historically poor outcomes and late-stage diagnosis. Peer as a similarly positioned disease-specific charity competing for awareness, research funding, and at-risk population engagement.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@RoycastleLungcancer
• Facebookfacebook.com/roycastlelungcancer
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-roy-castle-lung-cancer-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/roycastlelungcancer
• Xx.com/Roy_Castle_Lung

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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