The Children’s Cancer Unit Charity, one of Northern Ireland’s leading organisations supporting families affected by childhood cancer, has appointed its first ever Chief Executive Officer to lead the charity’s work and develop new services. 

The Charity was established in 1984 to raise the necessary funds to build a dedicated Children’s Cancer & Haematology Unit at the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children. Today, between 60 – 70 children are diagnosed with cancer every year in Northern Ireland, with this figure rising to over 150 when teenagers and young people up to the age of 24 are included. Each of these children will visit the Children’s Cancer Unit, which has seen an increase in demand for support and additional new services, an issue the Children’s Cancer Unit Charity hopes to help address. 

Taking on the new Chief Executive post is Jane Hoare, who brings with her over 18 years’ experience in the charity sector, primarily in income generation and team development, having most recently led the fundraising team at Cancer Fund for Children.

Speaking on her appointment and ambitions for the work of the charity, Jane said:  “Being involved in and advocating for the issues surrounding children and young people affected by cancer is something I’m really passionate about, so I am delighted to be joining the Children’s Cancer Unit Charity at such an exciting time for the organisation. 

“Providing excellent services and support for these families is such an important responsibility and one I will undertake with great pride. My role will be to develop and deliver a new and strategic vision for the charity to further its current aim of supporting both the medical teams at the Children’s Cancer & Haematology Unit, as well as families impacted by childhood cancer. In the meantime, I look forward to meeting more and more inspiring children and young people living with cancer across Northern Ireland in the weeks and months ahead.”

Welcoming Jane to the Charity, Chairman Felix Mooney added:  “We are thrilled to have Jane join our team, to help drive the important work we do at the Children’s Cancer Unit Charity. Her appointment marks a positive step for the organisation and one we are excited to be taking. 

“With the support of our existing team and our dedicated partners and volunteers, we know Jane will be instrumental in enhancing the services we provide and continuing to support families who need us.”

For more information on the work of the Children’s Cancer Unit Charity, visit www.childrenscancerunit.com.