Macmillan Cancer Support

The charity was founded 1911^[4] as the Society for the Prevention and Relief of Cancer, by Douglas Macmillan following the death of his father from the disease. In 1924, the name was changed to the National Society for Cancer Relief, which it retained until 1989 when it was changed to Cancer Relief Macmillan Fund, later changed again to Macmillan Cancer Relief. From 5 April 2006, Macmillan Cancer Relief became known as Macmillan Cancer Support, as this more accurately describes its role in supporting people who have cancer. It has adapted the principles of being a "source of support" and a "force for change".

As the National Society for Cancer Relief, the organization provided funding to support the work of the Breast Care and Mastectomy Association of Great Britain, which would later become Breast Cancer Care.

In 2023, Macmillan Cancer Support were listed as the top ranked charity in the United Kingdom in terms of which charities people would be likely to donate to tomorrow, according to YouGov’s UK Charity rankings 2023.^[5]It is governed by a Board of Trustees and Executive Management Team.^[6]

The charity's head office is based in London.^[7] Macmillan Cancer Support merged with cancer information charity Cancerbackup in 2008.

Macmillan works in partnership with other cancer research organisations and is a partner of the National Cancer Research Institute.

Macmillan Cancer Support supports local information and support centres, cancer support groups, benefits advisers and cancer support specialists, and can help with practical, medical, financial and emotional support.

Macmillan provides information about cancer through its Information Standard website, free printed and recorded materials, telephone support line and over 170 local cancer information and support services nationwide.

Macmillan host a series of annual fundraising events, which include running, golf and cycling events. The most notable event is World's Biggest Coffee Morning, which has made £75,000,000 since it began in 1990.^[8] Macmillan also hosts other large fundraisers, including Brave the Shave which raises over £4,000,000 each year,^[9] as well as Go Sober for October which has raised over £3 million.^[10][11][12]

Macmillan faced criticism when it placed adverts in Facebook and on Google associating the Ice Bucket Challenge, a viral fundraising activity, with itself. It had been suggested that the aim of the Macmillan marketing campaign was to divert web traffic and subsequently awareness and donations away from smaller charities with whom the challenge had been mostly associated, namely those relating to motor neuron disease and ALS.^{[13][14][15][16][17]}

Amanda Neylon, the head of digital at Macmillan, said the charity got behind the Ice Bucket Challenge, which asks participants to pour a bucket of iced water on their heads, because it was criticised for being too slow on the uptake for the #nomakeupselfie social media campaign. On missing out on the #nomakeupselfie campaign, Neylon said: "We were too slow – it was a big motivator to be much better the next time an opportunity came along."^[18]

In 2016, Macmillan scrapped the head of digital role as its digital team merged into other departments. ^[19]

• Cancer in the United Kingdom

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Macmillan Cancer Support.

• Macmillan Cancer Support website
• Macmillan nurse fact sheet
• About Sober for October
• Learn Zone – resources and e-learning programmes for professionals and people affected by cancer.