J D Wetherspoon partnership with Young Lives vs Cancer raises more than £2 million in a single year

Record-breaking fundraising by staff and customers marks a new milestone in the partnership supporting children and young people with cancer

Staff and customers at J D Wetherspoon have raised an incredible £2,096,508.93 for Young Lives vs Cancer during the 2025/26 financial year, marking the first time the partnership has raised more than £2 million in a single financial year.

The total represents a 39% increase on the previous financial year and is the highest annual amount raised since the partnership began in 2002.

Wetherspoon pub teams and customers across the UK have gone above and beyond to raise vital funds for the charity, supporting children and young people with cancer and their families through a wide range of fundraising activities.

Pub fundraising raised £698,496 during the year, while 3,098 employees took part in the KICK football competition, raising more than £360,000. A further £250,000-plus was raised by 551 pub teams taking part in the annual darts competition.

Customers also contributed through a range of fundraising initiatives. Sales of special Young Lives vs Cancer Top Trumps packs raised £230,886, while 15,540 customers bought charity bucket hats, raising £139,860. Donations through the Wetherspoon app generated £164,812, and pin badge sales raised a further £59,843.

Employees also went the extra mile through sponsored events, raising £184,232. Among the individual fundraising achievements was that of Freddie Skarbek, who ran more than a marathon a day for 37 days, travelling from Land’s End to John O’Groats and raising over £30,000.

The 2025/26 total surpasses the previous record annual fundraising total of £1,594,750.03, raised in 2021/22.

To mark the fundraising milestone, staff at J D Wetherspoon’s head office recently celebrated the achievement during a visit from Young Lives vs Cancer representatives, who attended a business operations meeting to talk about the charity’s work.

The meeting also provided an opportunity to hear directly from Stefan who has lived experience of cancer, having received a diagnosis in late 2024. He shared his personal story with staff, including how he told his friends about his diagnosis in a Wetherspoon pub, bringing home the very real experiences of young people and the importance of support from the people around them.

Rachel Kirby-Rider, Chief Executive at Young Lives vs Cancer, said: “The hugely successful partnership began with a chance meeting on a train between J D Wetherspoon’s founder and the then chief executive of Young Lives vs Cancer in 2002. What started as a conversation has grown into a long-standing partnership that continues to bring together employees, pub teams and customers to support children and young people with cancer and their families.

“From the moment of diagnosis, Young Lives vs Cancer’s specialist social workers provide day-to-day support for children, young people and their families. The charity also provides accommodation close to hospitals, where families can stay together during treatment, as well as grants to help families manage the financial impact of cancer.”

John Hutson, Chief Executive of J D Wetherspoon, said: “We are incredibly proud of the partnership we have built with Young Lives vs Cancer over the past two decades. Raising more than £2 million in a single financial year is a fantastic achievement and a testament to the generosity of our customers and the enthusiasm and dedication of our pub teams across the UK.

“Our staff continually come up with imaginative and inspiring ways to raise funds, and it is fantastic to see so many people getting involved, from pub fundraising and the darts competition to KICK, charity merchandise and extraordinary sponsored challenges.

“We are grateful to everyone who has contributed and helped make this record-breaking year possible, supporting children and young people with cancer and their families.”