At St Mark’s Hospital Foundation, we are driven by a vision of a future free from the fear of bowel disease. St Mark’s Hospital Foundation is dedicated to funding ground-breaking research at St Mark’s Hospital and supporting the training and education of its medical professionals. By donating today, you’ll help St Mark’s continue it's vital work; caring with guts for the thousands of individuals affected by complex bowel diseases.
And there’s more—thanks to the generosity of our matched funders, your donation could be doubled, making an even greater impact!
St Mark's was founded in 1835 by the surgeon, Frederick Salmon, as the world's first hospital focused exclusively on colorectal and intestinal medicine; it's research has directly impacted patient care. From its beginnings as a charity hospital on the fringes of the Victorian medical establishment, St Mark's is now widely recognised as the UK's national bowel hospital.
In gratitude for successful treatment, Charles Dickens donated 10 guineas and copies of his debut novel The Pickwick Papers, one of the earliest examples of hospital fundraising. You can continue the tradition of giving, inspired by your own health journey or that of a loved one, by supporting us this festive season.
This season, we are inspired by patient John and his wife Wendy, who completed an incredible 1,000 mile walk from Land's End to John O'Groats- a long-held retirement dream they once feared might not be possible after John's cancer diagnosis.
However, following a hard-fought recovery John and Wendy achieved their dream of walking 1,000 miles from Land’s End to John O’Groats, celebrating John’s 70th birthday along the way. Their journey is a powerful testament to resilience and determination, together, he and Wendy show there is hope, strength, and a full life beyond a cancer diagnosis.
Together, we are making a difference, but we must do more. Bowel disease is impacting more lives. By supporting us, you enable St Mark’s to:
Advance cutting-edge treatments, like those offered through St Mark’s Surgical Robotics Research Programme, which is setting new standards in minimally invasive surgery.
Build essential resources, such as the St Mark’s Tissue Bank, a unique asset for ground-breaking studies into bowel disease.
Expand St Mark’s impact globally, by educating and training medical professionals in clinical best practice which, in turn, is helping patients to thrive beyond their diagnosis.
By supporting St Mark’s, you continue a legacy of giving that began with the novelist Charles Dickens and that has helped to transform countless lives. This seasonal period let’s gift even more patients, like John and Robin, the hope of a future where bowel disease is preventable, treatable, and ultimately curable.
Together, let’s end bowel disease for good.
Wishing you a healthy and happy 2025,
Jason Bacon, CEO
St Mark’s Hospital Foundation.
* Charities pay a small fee for our service. Find out how much it is and what we do for it.
