40tude Curing Colon Cancer

40tude Curing Colon Cancer is a UK-based charity founded in 2011 by Gordon and Fraser Moore to combat colon (bowel) cancer, the UK's leading cancer killer among non-smokers, by driving early detection, prevention, and treatment innovations. Motivated by personal loss and a belief that the disease is preventable and treatable if caught early, the organisation focuses on raising public awareness, destigmatising screening, and funding translational research to transform survival rates. Its distinctive approach emphasises strategic partnerships, particularly with St Mark’s Hospital—the UK’s national centre for bowel disease—through initiatives like the Tom Smith Fellowship, CT Colonography programmes, and database infrastructure for outcomes research.

The charity exclusively supports innovative projects in early diagnosis, stratified risk assessment, and colon cancer treatment, including clinical fellowships, novel screening tools, and public education events. Beneficiaries are primarily patients at risk across the UK, with funding directed to research that accelerates practical clinical uptake rather than general health causes.

Eligible applicants are UK-based academic institutions, NHS hospitals, and universities with significant research capacity, primarily in England but with UK-wide impact; no income thresholds are specified, and smaller voluntary groups are not prioritised. Funding is invite-only—no unsolicited applications or open calls—with trustees making ad hoc decisions year-round for selected partners. Typical grants range from £20,000 to £200,000, often £30,000–£100,000 for multi-year projects.

Distinctively, 40tude avoids core funding, unrestricted grants, or non-colon cancer work, standing out through its laser-focused mission, volunteer-led governance as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, and unique fundraising via endurance challenges that engage a passionate community in advocacy and prevention.