Great Ormond Street creates poignant moments at St Pauls

The historic bells at St Paul's Cathedral have rung out in memory of the 253 children lost to cancer each year in the UK.

The campaign is a partnership between Hope & Glory and Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity's (GOSH Charity) £300m 'Build it. Beat it.' appeal.

Moving scenes occurred this week (9 September) after the Cathedral bells at St Paul's chimed for the families who have lost a child to cancer, with duties performed by family members themselves.

For many families facing a cancer diagnosis, the end of treatment bell is a powerful milestone, signifying hope, progress and the start of a new chapter. But tragically, too many children never reach that milestone.

Together with St Paul’s Cathedral, GOSH Charity gave families whose children didn’t get a chance to ring the bell the opportunity to pay a heartfelt tribute to their child’s life.

The moving ceremony began at 8.30am with the ringing of Great Tom, the bell that chimes to mark the deaths of monarchs and statespeople. One of last times the bell was tolled manually was to mark the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

Families who have lost children to cancer then rang further cathedral bells throughout the morning.

A striking installation of 253 colourful butterfly sculptures – each representing a child lost to cancer – lined Millennium Bridge, encircling St Paul’s and serving as a poignant reminder that cancer is still the biggest killer of children aged one to 14 in the UK.

Butterflies are often a powerful symbol of hope, associated with the souls of loved ones who have passed on, bringing comfort and guidance to many.

Taking place during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, the partnership is shining a light on the urgent need for a new Children’s Cancer Centre at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH).

GOSH already treats the highest number of children with cancer in the UK, but recent advances have outstripped its current facilities and it needs a new home to develop more breakthroughs.

The new cancer centre will bring together pioneering research, cutting-edge treatments and child-centred care under one roof – giving more families the hope of ringing the end of treatment bell and ensuring every child gets the best chance and childhood possible.

Gabi Field, deputy director of public fundraising at GOSH Charity, said: “The end of treatment bell is a powerful symbol of hope for many children and families at GOSH, as well as those facing a cancer diagnosis across the country. Yet, for too many, that moment never comes.

“By ringing the bells of St Paul’s throughout the morning, we are honouring the children lost to cancer each year, giving them the recognition they deserve, and ensuring they are not forgotten."

Two-year-old Orla was diagnosed with medulloblastoma, a rare cancerous brain tumour, in September 2022 after falling ill on holiday. She underwent multiple surgeries and months of chemotherapy at GOSH, spending her second birthday and Christmas on the ward, but sadly passed away in August 2023. Her family was among those at St Paul’s today, ringing the bell in Orla’s memory.

Adam, Orla’s dad, said: “Standing in St Paul’s and ringing the bell for Orla was incredibly emotional. Orla was so amazing, beautiful, brave and endured so much for someone so young, and we carry her spirit with us every day. To be able to stand here in St Paul's Cathedral, ringing the bell for her alongside others who have faced the same loss, is so important and such a special way of remembering our beautiful girl, reminding the world that she lived and that she will never be forgotten.”

The Revd Philip Banks, Canon Precentor at St Paul’s Cathedral: “Great Tom has tolled to mark numerous significant moments in our nation’s history. So today we are deeply honoured that it is chiming to mark Childhood's Cancer Awareness Month, and that bereaved families will chime bells in the North West Tower in memory of their children. We pray that this will provide these families with an opportunity to reflect and to remember, and that there will be a future when every child facing a cancer diagnosis can have the chance to ring their own end of treatment bell.”

To learn more or to donate to GOSH Charity’s 'Build it. Beat it.' appeal and help build the new Children’s Cancer Centre at GOSH, please click here.