Thanks to your generosity, Gift of Life has continued to provide critical medical care and support for children and young people battling cancer and severe blood disorders.
In 2025, your kindness made a meaningful impact:
• 17 children and young people received vital treatments, including bone marrow transplants, targeted therapy and specialised medicines not available in the CIS region, giving them a real chance at recovery.
• 50 paediatric oncologists, haematologists, and medical researchers took part in advanced professional development and international medical conferences, helping to improve standards of care in their home clinics.
• 64 medicine and treatment requests were approved for funding, ensuring that children in critical need did not go without help.
• £602,354 was invested in the charity’s programme work to support essential treatment and long-term survival.
Since 2011, your unwavering support has helped Gift of Life become a lifeline for children with cancer.
We can’t wait to share inspiring stories of the little cancer fighters you’ve helped this year.
Dmitry, 3 years old
Dmitry was diagnosed with a life-threatening brain tumour – glioma – at only one month old, necessitating several complex surgeries throughout 2024. His critical recovery required continued molecular-targeted therapy with an expensive drug Augtyro. The cost of a four-pack course, £53,304, was an impossible hurdle that was fully covered thanks to the incredible generosity of our donors. We are happy to share that MRI results showed positive progress on Augtyro, and Dmitry’s condition has stabilised significantly. After completing his rehabilitation, he now continues his prescribed treatment as an outpatient. Dmitry remains in a stable condition and enjoys his main pastime: playing with toy cars.
Nikolai, 7 years old
Nikolai has shown incredible bravery battling acute lymphoblastic leukaemia for nearly three years. Recently, a critical part of his post-transplant therapy involved treatment with Defitelio, a low-toxic, highly effective drug used to prevent serious liver complications like veno-occlusive disease (VOD). The required 90-vial course cost £44,060 and was funded thanks to your support. Nikolai received his bone marrow transplant in July, and doctors have now confirmed the transplant has successfully engrafted. This is a true milestone that brings immense hope and courage to Nikolai and his family! He remains in the hospital, receiving supportive medical care, and keeping his spirits high by mastering intricate Lego creations – his favourite hobby.
Sergey, 11 years old
With dreams of becoming an engineer or a medical scientist, Sergey tackles every day with courage. For the past two years, he has faced acute myeloid leukaemia, a serious blood cancer characterised by the rapid growth of abnormal cells that compromise normal blood production. This critical condition demands immediate treatment, typically involving chemotherapy, radiation, and a bone marrow transplant. Although Sergey’s first transplant in September 2024 was unfortunately unsuccessful, he bravely underwent a necessary repeat transplant this July. To manage life-threatening post-transplant liver complications, an extended course of Defitelio was required. This crucial 140-vial course, costing £69,812, was an immense financial burden that was fully covered by charitable funding, thanks to your generous support. Sergey is currently continuing his vital post-transplant treatment at the hospital.
Alina, 13 years old
Alina is a creative soul with a brave spirit. She used to brighten her days with art, playing the piano, and dancing, all in pursuit of her dream to become a choreographer. Sadly, her dreams were put on hold when she was diagnosed with the serious blood cancer, acute myeloblastic leukaemia, in May. Her medical team determined that the best path to recovery was targeted therapy followed by a bone marrow transplant to restore normal blood cell production. Recognising the elevated risk of severe liver complications during this critical post-transplant period, Alina was prescribed a protective course of Defitelio. Thanks entirely to our generous supporters, Gift of Life was able to cover the full cost of 100 vials of Defitelio, totalling £50,168. This ensures Alina can continue her intensive treatment safely and steadily. She is currently in the hospital, focused on her recovery and filled with hope to return home to her family soon.
Your generosity truly changes lives, giving children in need the chance to recover and embrace a life full of possibility.
In 2025
A total of £602,354 was invested in the purchase of critical medications and the delivery of life-saving treatments, directly supporting 17 children and young people diagnosed with cancer and serious blood disorders.
£514,472 was allocated towards life-saving medicines unavailable locally, including:
- 820 vials of Defitelio, used to prevent liver failure after bone marrow transplants
- 80 vials of Foscavir, used to treat life-threatening viral infections
- 14 vials of Cidofovir, a crucial antiviral medication
- 12 vials of Xaluprine, an essential oral chemotherapy for young children
- 10 packs of Mercaptopurine, an essential oral chemotherapy drug used in maintenance therapy for leukaemia
- 6 vials of Dificlir, an advanced antibiotic used to treat severe infections in immunocompromised children
- 4 packs of Augtyro, a targeted therapy used in the treatment of resistant or relapsed cancer types
£32,870 was allocated to cover the cost of a bone marrow transplant for one critically ill patient.
To strengthen long-term impact, £55,012 was invested in professional development, training, and educational programmes for paediatric oncologists, haematologists, and medical researchers. This support helps improve standards of care in local clinics and ensures that children receive treatment informed by the latest international medical expertise.
Albert Itov, clinical laboratory diagnostics physician at the Dmitry Rogachev Centre, who attended the ESH 7th International Conference on Acute Myeloid Leukaemia: Molecular and Translational – Advances in Biology and Treatment in Estoril, Portugal (October 2025), noted:
“The Conference provided a unique platform for exchanging expertise with international colleagues. I had the opportunity to hear about leading scientific advancements in the field of haematology. It is gratifying that many of the scientific directions presented are also being implemented at the Dmitry Rogachev Centre”.
Ekaterina Deordieva, allergologist-immunologist at the Dmitry Rogachev Centre, who participated in the ESID EHA
SIOP Focused Symposium 2025 in Vienna (November 2025), shared:
“I specialise in the patient group with neutropenia. Several presentations focused on congenital neutropenias, covering their diagnostic pathways, treatment, and potential risks of malignant transformation. Diagnostic predictors of malignant transformation were extensively covered at the Symposium, which will facilitate earlier determination of indications for Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) and result in higher overall survival rates.”
These investments ensure that expertise gained abroad directly translates into better, more effective care for young patients at home.
Fourteen Years of Saving Young Lives
Since 2011, your impact has helped Gift of Life to achieve some outstanding results in paediatric cancer care and support.
- Over £10,439,000 has been invested in Gift of Life’s programme work
- 640 children and young people have received essential medications and advanced cancer treatments
- 852 applications for vital medicines and critical treatments have been approved for funding, providing life-saving medical care
- 144 paediatric oncologists and scientists were provided with access to international conferences and other educational resources
Your unwavering support of Gift of Life helps us save children’s lives. Consider monthly giving to make an even greater impact!