Leukaemia Care – National Stories
Real Lives, Real Impact: Patient Stories Drive National Headlines for Leukaemia Care
About Leukaemia Care
For more than 50 years, Leukaemia Care has been the UK’s leading charity supporting people affected by leukaemia. Dedicated to improving early diagnosis, treatment access and emotional wellbeing, the charity works with patients, families, clinicians and policymakers to make a tangible difference.
In 2025, Leukaemia Care launched its annual ‘Spot Leukaemia’ awareness campaign – designed to educate the public about the often-overlooked symptoms of the disease and encourage earlier GP visits. Over two key bursts, in June and September 2025, Catalyst PR worked alongside the charity to bring the campaign to life through authentic patient storytelling.
The Challenge
Public understanding of leukaemia symptoms remains low – with fatigue, bruising and persistent infections frequently mistaken for less serious conditions. Leukaemia Care needed to break through public indifference with stories that would connect emotionally, educate meaningfully and encourage people to take potential symptoms seriously.
The challenge was to translate this into human terms, and reach mainstream, national audiences through compelling personal experiences.
Our Solution
Catalyst PR identified and interviewed three individuals supported by Leukaemia Care following their diagnoses:
- Hannah Coggles, whose story of being “just tired from a new puppy” struck a chord when she was later diagnosed with leukaemia.
- Amber Cunningham-Rogan, who mistook her bleeding gums for gum disease — another powerful example of how subtle symptoms can mask something serious.
- Elaine Hold, 57, who has lived with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) for eight years, enduring relapses, gruelling treatment and the emotional toll on her family.
Our team worked closely with each participant to sensitively craft their stories, highlighting both the human cost of late diagnosis and the life-changing support provided by Leukaemia Care.
These stories were pitched as powerful exclusives to national media – with strong links to awareness moments such as World ALL Day (20th September) – ensuring maximum relevance and public impact.
Alongside the patient features, we positioned Leukaemia Care chief executive, Colin Dyer, as a thought leader on the mental health impact of cancer, securing a high-profile opinion piece in the Daily Express to coincide with its cancer campaign.
The campaign ran over two bursts – June and September – using earned media to drive public recognition of symptoms and awareness of the charity’s ongoing support services.
The Result
Through the authentic voices of those directly affected, the Spot Leukaemia campaign achieved exceptional national coverage and public resonance:
- 2 pieces in The Sun Online – exclusive patient stories (Hannah and Amber)
- The Mail on Sunday (print) – in-depth feature on Elaine timed to coincide with World ALL Day
- The Mail Online – extended digital coverage of the campaign
- The Sunday Mail Online – patient-led awareness story
- The Daily Express Online – chief executive Colin Dyer’s op-ed on cancer and mental health
- GB News
“Real stories move people – they help others see themselves, and they make symptoms unforgettable. By sharing the journeys of those living with leukaemia, we were able to reach millions, educate thousands and help more people recognise the early signs.”
“Catalyst PR handled every story with sensitivity and professionalism, ensuring our patients’ experiences were shared in a way that can truly inspire change.”
Leukaemia Care – Colin Dyer, Chief Executive
