Game-changing moments from 2024
A year of hope and progress in ovarian cancer research.
The festive season is a time for reflection and gratitude. This year, we have even more to be thankful for, thanks to your unwavering support. Your generosity has fuelled incredible progress in the fight against ovarian cancer.
Professor Ahmed Ahmed at HHMT
A breakthrough in ovarian cancer vaccine research
We're thrilled to share that Professor Ahmed Ahmed, a researcher we've been funding for over a decade, has made significant strides in developing OvarianVax, a potential ovarian cancer vaccine. With additional funding from Cancer Research UK, this groundbreaking research is set to revolutionise prevention strategies and help thousands of women in the future.
Ovarian Cancer Action has funded Professor Ahmed Ahmed’s previous research over the past decade that this project will now build on, and will continue to partner on this current research project.
What makes this vaccine project even more special is that it’s not just about science. Ovarian Cancer Action organised a workshop where women with lived experience of ovarian cancer shared their views - making sure patient experience was at the centre of the research.
Ovarian Cancer Action will continue to be a partner in this research project. With its decades-long expertise working with this patient community, it will provide funding for the continued involvement of patients in the research. This will be crucial to the success of the project.
Walk in Her Name 2024
The power of community - Walk in Her Name
Every Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, we challenge our community to raise as much money for ovarian cancer research by taking part in Walk in Her Name - a 100km walk across the month of March.
In 2024, a remarkable 1,800 supporters joined the Walk in Her Name challenge, walking a collective 180,000 kilometres and raising an astounding £250,000. Your dedication and passion have inspired us all.
The challenge was lead by Ovarian Cancer Action Ambassador, Beth Mead, professional footballer and passionate advocate.
Beth knows the power of teamwork and determination—and she’s joined thousands of people to help tackle ovarian cancer in honour of her Mum, June.
Ovarian Cancer Action collaborated with Coronation street to make sure the script was true to the real experience.
Raising awareness through storytelling
Our collaboration with Coronation Street brought ovarian cancer to the forefront of public consciousness. The powerful storyline featuring Toyah Battersby reached millions of viewers, sparking important conversations and raising awareness about the disease.
We worked with the storyline developers right from the beginning, shaping Toyah’s diagnosis into a rarer form of the disease – Germ Cell ovarian Cancer – to bring the drama of Toyah’s pregnancy storyline together with the very rare instances where a positive pregnancy test can indicate ovarian cancer.
From that moment onwards we provided the storyline team with all sorts of briefings – from what scans she would be having, her treatment regime, to the conversations she would be having with her doctors.
Most importantly we’ve shared stories from patients who have experienced the same diagnosis as Toyah. We reviewed scripts and talked through the longer-term consequences of the disease for Toyah and her family so that this storyline stays relevant in the months (and years!) to come.
Our role was to ensure that the storyline was not only accurate but also reflective of real patient experiences.
The HHMT Forum on Ovarian Cancer united charities from across the globe.
Global collaboration for a brighter future
Every four years we bring together world-leading experts to discuss the latest advancements and future directions in ovarian cancer research at The HHMT Forum on Ovarian Cancer.
Excitingly, the HHMT International Forum took place in October 2024. This year, we're took collaboration to the next level by inviting global charity partners to join us.
By uniting international charities with leading researchers and clinicians, we were able to pool resources, share expertise, and fast-track breakthroughs in ovarian cancer treatment and prevention.
The first National Ovarian Cancer Audit results released.
Addressing health inequalities
After years of tireless campaigning, the government has finally funded a national ovarian cancer audit. This crucial step will help us identify and address health disparities, ensuring that everyone has equal access to timely diagnosis and treatment.
The first National Ovarian Cancer Audit (NOCA) report, published in 2024, takes an in-depth look at how ovarian cancer care was delivered to women in England in 2021 and in Wales in 2022.
This autumn we saw the first results of the audit, highlighting gaps in treatment and care. The results of this audit, and future audits, will allow us all to push for change where it is needed the most - making sure everyone with ovarian cancer has access to the same level of care needed.
A brighter future together
As we look ahead to 2025, we're filled with optimism and excitement. With your continued support, we can achieve even greater milestones. Together, we can work towards a future where ovarian cancer is no longer a threat.
Thank you for being a part of this journey. Your compassion and generosity make a real difference.