Group of Friends to Climb Mount Kilimanjaro
Hertfordshire and Kent group of friends to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in aid of Oracle HNCUK
A group of three friends from Hertfordshire and Kent have been telling South East Online that they will attempt to summit the highest peak on the African continent to raise awareness and funds for Oracle Head and Neck Cancer UK.
Expedition climb timetable
Brother and sister, Callum and Josie McGurk from Ware, along with best friend Henry Rynehart from Sevenoaks, will start the climb on the 26th of August and aim to make the summit on the 31st of August. They will finish the expedition on the 3rd of September. It is the first time the group of friends have ever attempted a challenge of this magnitude and hope the ambitious ascent will raise funds for Oracle.
The trio were inspired to support the charity by Josie and Callum McGurk’s uncle, Professor Mark McGurk, who is a pioneering oral and maxillofacial head and neck cancer surgeon and consultant. Mark also serves as a trustee and surgical lead for Oracle which merged with the Head & Neck Cancer Foundation, of which he was a co-founder.
Cancer survivor stories are humbling
Callum explains why they are supporting Oracle Head & Neck Cancer UK; “On a personal level, me and my sister Josie have grown up watching the efforts of our uncle, Professor Mark McGurk. We have listened to the stories of cancer survivors and have been humbled by their experiences and the resilience they and their families have shown. We encourage everyone to take the time to read some of these stories themselves in the hope that this may raise awareness and understanding of the symptoms to look out for; but also, the available support networks.”
Michelle Vickers, Chief Awareness Officer at Oracle Head & Neck Cancer UK says; “We are delighted that Callum, Josie and Henry are putting themselves forward for a challenge of this scale, all in aid of raising funds for Oracle Head & Neck Cancer UK. In completing this climb, they will play a part in improving patient outcomes for those faced with head and neck cancer, and I ask that anyone who is able to, please donate whatever amount they can. We wish them all the best for the climb!”
Cancer Care: Why Mental Health Support Must Be Part of Every Cancer Journey
Oracle Head & Neck Cancer UK is proud to support the Daily Express Cancer Care campaign, a powerful series that shines a light on the often unseen emotional toll of cancer – and the urgent need for better psychological support for everyone affected. The campaign published over the past three weeks featured voices from across…
Ground-breaking blood test shows promise for early detection of head & neck and other hard-to-screen cancers
A new large-scale trial has found that the blood-based screening test known as Galleri test can detect more than 50 types of cancer – including cancers of the head and neck, which currently have no routine screening programme – and may significantly boost early diagnosis. The trial showed that, when used alongside existing screening methods,…
2 Minutes to Save Your Life: Oracle Launches HeadNeckCheck Campaign for Make Sense Week
This Make Sense Week (15-20 September), the European-wide head and neck cancer awareness initiative, Oracle Head & Neck Cancer UK, is championing both prevention and early detection – recognising that stopping cancer before it starts is just as vital as catching it early. Two Ways to Fight Cancer This Week Prevention Today: Head and neck…
Leadership update
After four successful years as CEO, Tamara Kahn has transformed Oracle into a respected national voice for head and neck cancer patients. She established a national presence, created a four-pillar RACE strategy (Research, Awareness, Collaboration and Patient/Community Engagement) and built strong policy influence. With these foundations now firmly in place, Tamara will transition from her…
Finding Light in Adversity: Seven inspiring stories through head and neck cancer
A new collection of patient stories from Oracle Head and Neck Cancer UK reveals how individuals facing head and neck cancer have discovered unexpected sources of strength, purpose and even joy during their treatment and recovery. The seven contributors share remarkably similar themes despite their unique journeys. Almost all emphasise the power of maintaining a…
NHS to fast-track patients with head and neck cancer into cancer vaccine trial
Patients with advanced head and neck cancers in England will be fast-tracked into a trial of a new cancer vaccine, as the NHS expands its world-leading trial ‘match-making’ service. The investigational cancer vaccine uses mRNA technology to help the immune system recognise and kill cancer cells containing human papillomavirus proteins. More than 100 patients with advanced head…
World Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Day 2025: The HPV Vaccine Could Save Your Life
27th July 2025 This World Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Day, Oracle Head and Neck Cancer UK has a simple but urgent message: HPV vaccination saves lives. With HPV-related head and neck cancers having doubled in the past 20 years, the charity is using today to remind the public that these devastating cancers are preventable…
Data from the National Disease Registration Service on HPV associated and HPV independent oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma
The Get Data Out Programme from the National Disease Registration Service (NDRS), part of NHS England, has published statistics on incidence, routes to diagnosis and treatment for patients diagnosed with oropharyngeal cancer in England by human papillomavirus (HPV) status. To our knowledge this is the first time data on oropharyngeal cancer by HPV status has…
Join Us for an Evening of Research, Impact, and Conversation
Research & Impact EveningDate: Monday 28th April 2025Time: 6:00 PM – 8:30 PMVenue: Skyline, Tower Suites, 100 Minories, London EC3N 1JY A Celebration of Research Join us for a meaningful and action-focused evening where we’ll be diving into some of the big conversations around head and neck cancer – especially those linked to HPV (human…
What the Rare Cancers Bill Means for Head & Neck Cancer
14 March marked a crucial moment for research into rare cancers, as the Rare Cancers Bill took another significant step toward becoming law! Dr. Scott Arthur, a Labour MP, introduced this legislation in Parliament to drive much-needed research into cancers affecting fewer than 1 in 2000 people in the UK – including many types of…
Help Beat Head and Neck Cancer
Oracle Head & Neck Cancer UK is a registered charity in England and Wales (1142037), and in Scotland (SC052790).
Registered as a company limited by guarantee in England and Wales (7125497). Registered address: 80 Coombe Road, New Malden KT3 4QS.