It’s World Cancer Day soon, a day dedicated to raising awareness of the disease and the impacts it has on all those who are affected by it. Find out all about this important day and be inspired for ways to take part.
When is World Cancer Day?
World Cancer Day is an international awareness day observed every 4 February to raise awareness about cancer, encourage its prevention, and mobilise action to address the global cancer epidemic. It is led by the Union for International Cancer Control.
Each year, hundreds of activities and events take place around the world, gathering communities, organisations and individuals in schools, businesses, hospitals, marketplaces, parks, community halls, places of worship – in the streets and online – acting as a powerful reminder that we all have a role to play in reducing the global impact of cancer.
What is the World Cancer Day theme for 2025?
The World Cancer Day theme 2025-2027, “United by Unique”, places people at the centre of care and explores new ways of making a difference.
Cancer is more than just a medical diagnosis—it’s a deeply personal matter. Behind every diagnosis lies a unique human story – stories of grief, pain, healing, resilience, love and more.
That’s why a people-centred approach to cancer care that fully integrates each individual’s unique needs, with compassion and empathy, leads to the best health outcomes.
Every experience with cancer is unique and it will take all of us, united, to create a world where we look beyond the disease and see the person before the patient. A world where the needs of people and communities are at the centre of health systems.
Join us on 4 February and help us make a difference.
World Cancer Day event ideas
Support us this World Cancer Day: Take action
Here are some ways your business can support our work:
- Host a simple fundraising event and get employees to join in – here are seven ideas.
- Encourage everyone to wear odd socks for the day in return for a £5 donation each, posting photos on social media and tagging us so we can join in the fun – X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn
- Host a corporate bake-off competition. Ask for donations to enter. Then sell the cakes once the winners have been announced and donate the proceeds to Cancer Support UK.
- Hold a charity pub quiz in a popular pub and create a quiz for an evening of fundraising fun. Ask teams to pay an entry fee/donation.
- Arrange a yoga class as a stress reliever. Choose an individual to host or lead the class and charge an entrance fee plus set up a donation bucket or link to collect gifts.
- Hold a walkathon on World Cancer Day.
- Organise a T-shirt fundraiser. Pick someone creative in your team to design a t-shirt. Create a campaign page where supporters can place their orders – this could be done on an intranet. Encourage everyone to wear their t-shirts on World Cancer Day.
- Try hosting a skills auction. Volunteers offer their skills (i.e. teaching knitting, guitar, or electrical repairs) in exchange for donations.
- Donate some Cancer Kits. We provide these free to adults and children who are undergoing cancer treatment. It typically costs us £40 to fill and send a kit, why not donate ten kits on the day?
- Make us your Charity of the Year. Pledge to support us for 12 months, and we’ll work with you to provide volunteering opportuntities for your people, help you with fundraising activities, challenges, and more besides.
To explore these and other ways you can support our work on World Cancer Day, speak to Richard Trimby or Olivia Gray in our corporate team.
