JDW raises £21m for children’s cancer charity

Since the partnership between the pub group and the charity began more than two decades ago, patrons and employees have organised and participated in fundraising events.

These have included quizzes, bake sales, sky diving and mountain climbing to raise funds for Young Lives vs Cancer, which provides financial and emotional help to children and young people with cancer and their families.

Initial target

The charity’s director of income and engagement Luke Mallett said: “When our partnership with JDW began with a chance meeting in 2022, the initial fundraising had a target of £500,000 and yet 20 years later, that total has reached an incredible £21m.

“JDW staff and pub communities have amazed and inspired us year after year. From the bottom of our heart, we wish to thank each and every JDW colleague and all of their customers for their dedication, enthusiasm and support.

“Young Lives vs Cancer supports more than 7,000 children and young people with cancer and their families each year and JDW customers, employees and local communities play a part in helping us to be there for them.”

Fundraising milestone

JDW people director Tom Ball said the business was proud to have raised so much for the charity.

The pub group reached the £20m milestone in July last year​ for the charity, which works with children and young people diagnosed with cancer and their families to help them find the strength to face everything cancer has to throw at them.

The money raised from the partnership has helped to fund grants to help families with the additional costs cancer brings, it has funded families to use facilities in the charity’s Home from Home facilities while their child is undergoing treatment in an nearby hospital and it has introduced support groups for service users and their families.