York Professionals to Support York Against Cancer: What This Partnership Means for the Local Community

Something pretty special is happening in the city of York. An organisation that brings together lots of different businesses, called York Professionals, is celebrating a huge milestone – its 25th silver anniversary. And to mark the occasion, they've announced a brilliant new partnership. For 2026, they have chosen to throw their support behind a much-loved local charity, selecting York Against Cancer as its official Charity of the Year. This means they will be focusing all their big fundraising efforts on helping this one incredible organisation, making a real difference to people across the city.

A big anniversary and a big choice

Imagine being around for 25 years. That’s a quarter of a century! That’s how long York Professionals has been a key part of the city's business scene. It's a group where people from all sorts of jobs—accountants, solicitors, designers, you name it—can connect, share ideas, and support the local community. For their 25th silver anniversary, they wanted to do something meaningful. Each year, they pick one local charity to support, and this year the choice was a big one. With so many fantastic causes in York, picking just one is never easy. The team at York Professionals spent a lot of time thinking about who they could help the most during their special anniversary year.

After much consideration, they made their decision. The group is officially teaming up with York Against Cancer for 2026. Susie Mortonson, who is the Chair of York Professionals, talked about how tough the decision was. She said, “With so many extremely worthy charities to choose from the decision was not an easy one. After careful consideration we are delighted to support York Against Cancer at this year’s Silver Anniversary Ball, where we will raise as much money as we can. Last year we raised almost £6,000 for Brainkind and we hope to achieve a similar amount this year. We’ll be holding a raffle and silent auction to fundraise for this fantastic charity.” This partnership shows how local businesses, through York Professionals, are committed to giving back to the community where they work and live.

What does York Against Cancer actually do?

So, who are York Against Cancer? They are an independent charity right here in York, which means they aren't part of a bigger national organisation. All the money they raise and the work they do is focused on helping local people. When someone is affected by cancer, it doesn’t just impact them; it affects their whole family. That's where York Against Cancer steps in. Think of them as a massive support system for the community.

Their work is really varied and incredibly important. It can be broken down into a few key areas:

• Care and Support: They help patients and their families in practical ways. This could be anything from providing transport to hospital appointments, which can be a huge relief, to offering a quiet space to relax away from the busy wards. They even have a respite home in Filey where families can take a much-needed break by the seaside.

• Funding Research: The charity helps to fund scientists who are working on pioneering cancer research. These are the clever people in labs looking for new ways to diagnose and treat cancer, which could one day lead to a cure. This work happens locally, often at the University of York.

• Education and Awareness: They also focus on prevention. This involves going into schools and communities to provide information and education about cancer awareness. It’s all about helping people understand how to lead healthier lives and spot any early warning signs.

Basically, from helping someone get to their chemo appointment to funding the next big scientific breakthrough, York Against Cancer provides a circle of support for people in York. It's a vital service, and being chosen as the Charity of the Year will provide a massive boost.

A powerful partnership for the city

This team-up between York Professionals and York Against Cancer is more than just a one-off donation. It’s about building a connection. Andy Knowles, the CEO at York Against Cancer, explained just how much this means. He said,

“York Against Cancer is absolutely delighted to have been chosen as York Professionals’ Charity of the Year for 2026. This partnership means a great deal to us: it connects us with a fantastic community of local business people who care deeply about York. It will help us raise vital funds and awareness to support local people affected by cancer and to invest in better outcomes for the future. We’re really looking forward to working together and making a tangible difference across our city.”

Andy Knowles highlights two key things here: funds and awareness. The money raised is obviously super important for keeping their services going. But awareness is just as powerful. When a respected group like York Professionals puts its name next to a charity, more people hear about the amazing work being done. It gets people talking, and it helps the charity reach even more people who might need their help or who might want to volunteer or donate. This partnership connects the business world of York directly with a charity that supports its residents in their toughest moments.

How you can get involved (and have a great night out)

The main event for this fantastic fundraising partnership will be the York Professionals Annual Dinner, which this year is also the Silver Anniversary Ball. It sounds like it’s going to be a night to remember! The event is happening on Thursday 15th October at the famous York Racecourse. It's a chance for people from across the city to get dressed up, enjoy a brilliant evening, and, most importantly, raise a lot of money for York Against Cancer.

Two of the big fundraising activities on the night will be a raffle and a silent auction. A raffle is simple—you buy a ticket, and if your number is pulled out, you win a prize. A silent auction is a bit different. Items are displayed, and you write down on a piece of paper how much you'd be willing to pay for it. At the end of the night, the person who wrote down the highest amount wins the item. Both are really fun ways to donate money and maybe go home with something amazing. Last year, the group raised nearly £6,000 for their chosen charity, Brainkind, and they're hoping to hit a similar target this year. Every single ticket bought for the raffle or bid made in the silent auction will go directly to helping York Against Cancer continue its work. Anyone wanting to join the fun and support a great cause can get Early Bird tickets for the Annual Dinner now.