Bristol Law Society and members raise £9000 for Young Lives vs Cancer

 

Bristol Law Society’s Charity of the Year 2025, Young Lives vs Cancer, is set to benefit from the fundraising efforts of members at BLS events including the Battle of the Legal Bands and its flagship event, the Bristol Legal Awards.

Young Lives vs Cancer is the leading UK charity for children and young people with cancer and their families. From the moment of diagnosis, Young Lives vs Cancer’s specialist social workers provide day-to-day support for each child, young person and family and the charity provides accommodation close to hospitals, where families can stay together during treatment for free.

Bristol Law Society has raised £9,000 for the charity through its fundraising efforts, which included a ‘Win a Diamond’ raffle kindly donated by Titcombe Bespoke Jewellers in Clifton.

Young Lives vs Cancer relies on charitable donations to fund their vital work supporting children and young people facing cancer and their families across the UK.

 

Two of the charity’s Homes from Home are based in Bristol – Sam’s House and CLIC House. The accommodation service provides a free place for families to stay when their child is going through cancer treatment. They’re close to principal treatment centres, helping families avoid the extra financial burdens of travel, accommodation and food costs. They also allow young cancer patients to be close to their loved ones, keeping the family together at a difficult time.

At CLIC House the total number of family stays in 2023/24 was 155 with an average length stay of 27 nights and Sam’s House accommodated 89 families for an average length of stay of 53 nights. Bristol Law Society’s efforts could fund 18 families to stay together for a week in one of the Homes, or two months of a specialist social worker’s support for families facing cancer.

 

Coralie McKeivor, 2025 President of Bristol Law Society commented “I am incredibly proud of the Bristol legal community for coming together to raise £9,000 for Young Lives vs Cancer. This charity provides vital support to children and young people with cancer and their families, and it’s inspiring to know that our efforts will make a real difference here in Bristol and beyond. From hardship grants to Homes from Home, these funds will help families through some of the toughest times of their lives. It is wonderful to see Bristol Law Society members unite for such an important cause.”

Sophie Hartley, Partnership Fundraiser at Young Lives vs Cancer, spoke movingly on the night of the Bristol Legal Awards about her own personal cancer journey and thanked Bristol Law Society members for their generosity which also included donations of essential supplies to fill the cupboards of the 2 Bristol Homes from Home.

Sophie said: “We want to say a huge thank you to everyone involved in the Bristol Law Society. It’s been great to see so many law firms from across Bristol coming together to support children and young people facing cancer. This year’s partnership has raised a huge amount, and we’re so grateful to everyone involved as it really makes a difference to the young cancer patients and families we’re here to support. We’re especially thankful for donations at this time of year, helping families to focus on what really matters: being together this festive season.”

For more information about Young Lives vs Cancer’s work, go to www.younglivesvscancer.org.uk