For over 30 years, Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation has aimed to improve the lives of people with lung cancer.
From the implementation of lung cancer screening to providing support to all those affected, pioneering new treatments to successfully campaigning for the smoking ban in public places, we are proud to have had, and continue to have a significant impact on those affected by lung cancer.
A timeline of achievements
April 1990
Professor Ray Donnelly sets up the charity, the Lung Cancer Fund
October 1991
Professor Ray Donnelly performs the first removal of a lung cancer by keyhole surgery.
Early 1992
Roy Castle shocked the nation when he was diagnosed with lung cancer
May 1993
Charity awards the first grant of its kind to study early genetic changes in lung cancer, laying the groundwork for screening high risk individuals.
July 1994
Roy Castle embarks on the Tour of Hope, raising £1million towards the world’s first lung cancer research centre
September 1994
Roy Castle passes away
“Our study, funded by Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation, helps understand the earliest stage of lung cancer development by figuring out what’s going on inside these cells even before they become cancerous. Using this information, we may be able to develop screening tests, such as blood tests, and new treatments that could stop lung cancer in its tracks.”
– Professor Sam Janes, University College London
1995
The charity is renamed the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation
The Foundation opened its patient information and support office in Glasgow
May 1998
The Roy Castle research centre opens
1999
The charity received funding for the first mobile UK lab to recruit high risk individuals into the LLP
2001- 2012
Involvement in long term proof of concept studies into screening
“I am so grateful that I called the charity’s helpline as it made things much clearer and I understood the information better. I was so anxious at the consultation that I did not grasp what was being said and they did not have the time to properly explain everything as they were all so busy.
I felt quite down when I called, but feel so much better now, lighter and more informed about what I can do.”
– One of the thousands of helpline users we support each year
2007
Successfully campaigned for the implementation of a smoking ban in public places
2012
Charity launches national research grants programme.
January 2017
Charity funds its own lung cancer screening pilot in Nottingham
November 2017
NHS England announces proposed roll out of targeted lung health checks
July 2022
Fiona Castle appears on BBC Breakfast calling for national lung cancer screening
September 2022
The National Screening Committee recommends the introduction of targeted lung cancer screening
“Thanks to screening, my lung cancer was caught early so I am now cancer free. Without the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation, who knows where I’d be now.”
– Jeff Smith, diagnosed with lung cancer through screening
June 2023
The government announces a national targeted screening programme for lung cancer.
April 2024
Charity means with Health Minister to call for a 14-day directive for genomic testing.
December 2024
Charity calls for the implementation of self referral chest x-rays to improve early detection of symptomatic patients.
With your support, we can continue to have a positive impact on the thousands of people diagnosed with lung cancer every year.
Donate Now
Make a lasting impact
Set up a regular donation today and help change lives every month.
£10 a month for a year provides 48 people who have just been diagnosed, with copies of our information about lung cancer, treatments and support.
