About The Lymphoma Association
People deal with serious illness in many ways. Many want help to understand their illness, or that of someone close to them.
The Lymphoma Association was established in 1986 by patients and former patients as the only UK charity specialising in information about lymphatic cancers and continues to be so.
The Association aims: to provide information and emotional support to anyone whose life is affected by lymphatic cancer (Hodgkin’s disease and the non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma); build links with the health professionals who care for them; and raise general public awareness of lymphoma.
There are almost 10,000 new cases of Hodgkin’s disease and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL), every year in the UK. NHL has grown by 80 per cent since the early 1970s, continuing to rise by about five per cent per year. In common with leukaemia, lymphoma is a cancer of the white cells of the blood and the immune system.
The Association offers unbiased information and emotional support to patient, family or friend through:
- the specialist Freephone Helpline 0808 808 5555, free supporting literature and our website
- a national network of local support groups
- one-to-one telephone ‘Buddies’ with personal experience of lymphoma
Its widely distributed newsletter offers the latest information about lymphoma and its treatments, and personal experiences of members which provide encouragement and support to others.
The Lymphoma Association uses media opportunities to raise public awareness of lymphatic cancers, which are half as common again as leukaemia.
Our annual Lymphatic Cancer Awareness Week in May is a key event and the many people who take part in events such as the London Marathon and our annual Coast to Coast Bike Ride spread the word about lymphoma and the work of the Association through sponsors and local publicity.
Our history
Lewis Cash and Richard Franklin were two young Hodgkin's Disease patients and Tim Hilder suffered from non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. They felt isolated by their diagnosis and found it difficult to find information specific to their illnesses.
In 1986 they decided there was a need for an organisation to provide support for people with the disease, and officially launched the Hodgkin’s Disease Association (HDA) with the help of consultants at the Mount Vernon and Middlesex Hospitals.
They took over 1,000 enquiries in the first year.
The organisation was, until 1989, run from Tim and Felicity Hilder’s dining room table. It moved to offices in Haddenham, Buckinghamshire in 1992 and this was the same year that the first support group was also established.
The association was re-launched as the Hodgkin’s Disease and Lymphoma Association, to make the title more inclusive for those with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 1995. This year also marked the design of the new periwinkle logo. The periwinkle flower (genus ‘vinca’) has cytotoxic properties which are used in the treatment of lymphoma.
In 1998 the ‘Lymphoma Helpline Appeal’ was launched, its aim to raise £250,000 to fund the association’s services. A further name change took place – The Lymphoma Association was born.
The Lymphoma Association moved to its current premises in Aylesbury in 1999 and the Freephone Helpline (0808 808 5555) was also launched that same year.
The Lymphoma Association has grown from a membership of 30 to a membership of nearly 2000 and now the helpline takes 4,000 – 5,000 calls a year.