Home > About Us > Our story

Our story

Our story begins here in Norfolk. In the 1970s, two young men, the late David Moar MBE and Clive Bamford, found themselves with cancer and having to travel to London and Cambridge for treatment, often finding this more gruelling than the treatment itself.

David and Clive vowed to do something so that local people would have access to the best treatment and support closer to where they live. 40 years on, their vision has more than become a reality. The charity they founded, Big C, has raised over £40 million with on average £3 million raised each year by the local community and generous funders.

A black and white photo of the opening of the first centre

From its first small, but important fundraising project to supply chemotherapy equipment to the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital, Big C has grown into an impressive organisation which funds specialist equipment and internationally significant research projects based at the Norwich Research Park. These projects greatly benefit local people and have a global impact on our understanding and treatment of the many types of cancer.

The charity has also established seven Big C Support and Information Centres and Hubs. These centres provide an oasis of specialist emotional and practical support for those with a cancer diagnosis and their loved ones away from a clinical environment.

A close up of the Big C sign outside the support centre.

How our story began

“I wouldn’t really believe it was possible, but it has, and is, changing lives. Sometimes I think we all have a purpose in this world, and I wonder whether I was ill to actually create Big C as it is today.”
the late David Moar MBE, Big C Co-Founder

We’ve helped people like John & Sue

“Meeting someone who understood how my husband felt and was able to also make him laugh despite the tracheostomy and only being able to communicate by writing, was a truly up-lifting experience.

I cannot emphasise enough how much of a difference Big C made, thank goodness we found it.”

We’ve helped people like Margaret & John

John’s wife Margaret was diagnosed with small cell lung cancer in July 2022. The couple decided to pay a visit to the Big C Centre at Norwich Hospital to find out more about the Centre and what support might be available.

Read Margaret & John’s story