Fight for Life was originally formed nearly 28 years ago to raise funds to build a dedicated children's radiotherapy unit at the then Middlesex Hospital, London. In January 2000 the new unit was opened by Fight for Life's patron, Gary Lineker. The unit was equipped with a state of the art Linear Accelerator radiotherapy machine bought and paid for by the committee, enabling treatment with the best possible precision and speed.

The unit later moved to a brand new dedicated cancer unit installed at the new University College Hospital on the corner of Tottenham Court Road and Euston Road. The Linear Accelerator, the high energy radiotherapy equipment used for treating childrens cancers, bought with your money and now fully paid for, came with us and we also have our own children's play area and waiting room, to give young patients some breathing space whilst waiting for their treatment. All this has meant that the children have been treated to the very highest standards, and the unit can now claim to be a world-class paediatrics cancer treatment centre second to none. As far as we are aware, there is no other similar facility anywhere in the UK, with such a wide range of expertise and modern equipment. We later launched an appeal for a dedicated PET/CT scanner, which was also installed and now fully paid for with your generous support.

We also supported Rapid Arc, which is an exciting and innovative computer software programmed, which changes the speed of rotation of a Linear Accelerator, the shape of the treatment beam and the radiation dose at the same time allowing the oncology team at UCLH to deliver the optimum tumour coverage together with a better ability to spare healthy tissue. With this brilliant new software we work towards higher radiation doses, with a greater rate of cure and lower risk of side effects to children undergoing treatment.

Later we announced our ongoing and revolutionary project -TrueBeam. Change has been the inspiration for TrueBeam a new, state-of-the-art radiotherapy machine and radiosurgery system optimized to destroy cancer. It has been built with intelligent engineering, innovative features and intuitive operation. This is based upon years of research, and provides a capability that allows doctors to tailor patients treatments for their particular type of cancer. This machine allowed the specialists to treat children with cancer in the most accurate way. Imaging on this new unit is some of the best in the world. The engineering innovations mean the centre will be able to treat children very quickly with the smallest fields possible this allows the team to reduce the dose to normal organs and tissue.

Fight for Life have also raised an additional £300,000 for the children waiting room and playroom at the very exciting and state-of-the-art Proton Beam Therapy Centre at UCLH. Together with The Christie Hospital in Manchester, UCLH will be the UK's only Proton Beam Therapy Centre. Treatment will take place at this brand new facility opened in 2020. Proton Beam Therapy uses high energy protons to target cancer cells with reduced side effects to surrounding areas or organs. PBT in the UK will mean children will no longer have to travel abroad and will have the latest technology, supported by the expertise at UCLH, on home soil. Some 1500 patients a year will be suitable for the treatment in the UK.

Other projects we have fundraised for include installing WiFi in the radioisotope rooms at UCLH at the cost of £50,000 to allow children under treatment to communicate with their friends and family and funding the purchase of a much needed 6-degree of Freedom couch for the radiotherapy rooms for £175,000.

Fight for Life and Young Fight for Life is staffed solely by volunteers and ALL contributions go directly to the fund.