Independent PR, social and digital agency, The PHA Group, is delighted to announce its appointment by Kidney Cancer UK, to support the charity’s press office for an initial 12 months – with a brief to support the charity’s longer-term awareness raising mission. The appointment follows three previous campaigns delivered by PHA for Kidney Cancer UK’s annual Kidney Cancer Awareness Week which is held annually in February.
Around 4,700 people in the UK die each year from kidney cancer (that’s around 13 people every day), and mortality rates have increased by 73% since the 1970s. The earlier kidney cancer is diagnosed, the better the outcome for patients – and so it’s vital that more people know the signs and symptoms.
The PHA Group’s campaign will therefore work to raise awareness and funds for the charity through ongoing national, consumer, and trade media exposure, so that it can continue to reduce the harm caused by kidney cancer through:
- Increasing public knowledge signs and symptoms to encourage timely testing and improve patient outcomes
- Providing helpful resources and information for patients and their families
- Supporting research into the causes, prevention, and treatment of the disease
To launch the campaign, The PHA Group will be releasing a new Kidney Cancer UK report which uncovers the concerning lack of mental health support provided to kidney cancer patients over the last decade following their diagnosis – and the importance of free resources from charities like Kidney Cancer UK which work to plug the current gaps in patient care.
The PHA Group will also be promoting the charity’s annual patient survey in February 2025 to mark Kidney Cancer Awareness Week – highlighting key statistics related to the experiences of UK kidney cancer patients through placement across target media outlets. To bolster this survey activity, PHA will be working closely with the charity to identify poignant case studies to help bring to life the experiences of people living with, and that have been treated for, kidney cancer.
Malcolm Packer, Chief Executive Officer at Kidney Cancer UK, said: “We’re thrilled to have The PHA Group join us for a long-term awareness campaign. Their role will be crucial in raising the profile of kidney cancer by sharing the stories of those affected and guiding more people toward the resources, support, and advice they need to navigate their kidney cancer journey with resilience and hope.
Our mission is to educate the UK public about the signs and symptoms of the disease to promote early detection and improve patient outcomes. With The PHA Group’s support, we’re confident we can make significant progress in the coming 12 months and, hopefully, beyond.”
Holly Scanlan, Senior Account Manager and Third Sector Healthcare Specialist at The PHA Group, commented: “After three successful campaigns with Kidney Cancer UK, we’re excited to continue our partnership on a long-term basis. Our team of third sector and healthcare specialists are perfectly placed to ensure the charity maintains a consistent media presence and solidify their position as a leading voice in the crowded and turbulent healthcare space.
Kidney Cancer UK is an incredible charity, and so we’re committed to driving as much awareness of their services as we can through widespread coverage, as well as improving public knowledge of the disease itself.”
Find out more about Kidney Cancer UK at www.kcuk.org.uk
About The PHA Group
Established in 2005, The PHA Group is an award-wining independent PR and Digital agency founded by Phil Hall, the former editor of the world’s bestselling newspaper and Director of Editorial Development at Trinity Mirror Group.
With offices based in London, Manchester, Leeds and Wokingham, The PHA Group constitutes consumer, corporate and reputation PR specialists to deliver transformational results for clients, including household brands, international corporations, ambitious start-ups, and individuals with a story to tell.
Our unparalleled network integrates top-level media and influencer contacts with strategic, creative, digital, and social insight, as well as global connections, to create a truly bespoke service. www.thephagroup.com
As a purpose driven business, we’re here to make a positive impact on the environment by reducing waste. To achieve our mission, we need people to understand what we stand for and join us on the journey. To achieve these aims we need our PR to work hard and not only promote us but help land educational content that will help people understand how they can make changes to lessen their environmental impact. We’ve got a lot of meaningful stories to tell and with PHA’s experience we believe they’re the right partner to help us.
About Kidney Cancer UK & Kidney Cancer Scotland
Kidney Cancer UK & Kidney Cancer Scotland is the trading names for Kidney Cancer Care, the UK’s leading kidney cancer charity. We seek to reduce the harm caused by kidney cancer by increasing knowledge and awareness, providing patient information and by supporting research into the causes, prevention, and treatment of the disease.
About kidney cancer
- Between 2016-2018 there were around 13,320 new cases of kidney cancer in the UK.
- There were 4,700 kidney cancer deaths in the UK in 2016- 2019.
- There are around 36 new cases diagnosed every day.
- Between 2016-2018, kidney cancer was the 7th most common cancer in adults in the UK.
- Kidney cancer accounts for about 3% of all cancer deaths in the UK.
- In UK men, it is the sixth most common cancer, with 8,400 cases diagnosed between 2018-2018, and in UK women it ranked tenth most common cancer, with around 4,900 cases diagnosed between 2016-2018.
- It has been estimated that the lifetime risk of developing kidney cancer is 1 in 52 men and 1 in 87 women will be diagnosed with kidney cancer during their lifetime.
- Around 46,000 people are living with kidney cancer in the UK.
- 5-year survival rates in the UK are amongst the worst in Europe.
