GIST Cancer UK

GIST Cancer UK is the only charity in the UK focusing solely on Gastronintestinal Stromal Tumours (GIST), a rare cancer that starts in the digestive system.  The charity's purpose is to improve treatments and to ultimately find a cure for GIST whilst supporting patients & carers and raising awarness of this devastating disease.

In addtion to funding number of research projects, the charity funds and manages a range of support services including; regional patient meetings, a telephone help line, a private online email forum, the National GIST Tissue Bank, the only specialist clinic in Europe treating PAWS-GIST patients at Addenbrookes Hospital in Cambridge and two comprehensive websites (www.gistcancer.org.uk & www.pawsgitclinic.org.uk).

The charity, which is run by a group of volunteers (who are mainly patients and carers), doesn't receive any government funding so is solely reliant on fund raising, grants and donations to finance its activities.