The Community’s Big impaCt for Chai

Chai Cancer Care’s campaign started with ‘The Big Impact Community Weekend’ and ended late into Monday night with a £3m matched-funding campaign.

The activities kicked off on Friday (25th November) with Chai’s annual ‘Mad Hair Day’. Thousands of children from 18 schools and nurseries across the UK adorned their hair with weird and wonderful styles to raise awareness for the ‘Chai in Schools’ programme. Chai in Schools supports children affected by a cancer diagnosis of either themselves or someone in their family. It also gives Headteachers, teachers and SENCOs advice and training in how to respond appropriately to the child’s needs as well as those of their classmates.

Into Shabbat, over 150 synagogues and communities from all denominations, and universities, took part in the ‘Chai Shabbat’.

Throughout the weekend, kosher bakeries, butchers and grocery stores promoted Chai with over 12,000 stickers on their food items.

On Sunday, the online fundraiser began at 10am and in the afternoon, Chai’s Flagship centre in Hendon opened its doors for more than 100 children who have a family member supported by Chai.  The ‘Chai Kids Family Fun Day’ gave the children a chance to create positive memories with a photo booth, face painting, jewellery making, photo frame decorating, football shoot-out and hair braiding. Dudley, one of our ‘Pet Therapy’ dogs made a guest appearance, highlighting one of Chai’s many complementary therapies.

By late Monday night, the 275 Team Hosts and close to 9,000 donors from across the world had raised over £3m, a truly monumental feat. Funds raised will be used to support Chai’s existing services and the rollout of the NHS BRCA testing of the Jewish community in 2023.

On Monday night, Chai Chairman, Louise Hager said: “This wave of affection and recognition of what Chai means to so many people is truly inspiring. You only have to read all of the messages – it’s quite extraordinary to see how Chai literally touches people’s hearts. Chai has annual running costs of £3.5m and rising, and with no statutory funding is dependent on the generosity of donors to meet the ever-increasing need.”

Chief Executive, Lisa Steele reflected, “The Big Impact’ reached tens of thousands of people over the whole weekend. Everyone knows someone affected by cancer, the way the community has come together to support us is remarkable.”