Here at Beads of Courage UK, our aim is to support children and their families through some of the toughest times in their lives.

What are Beads of Courage?

At every stage of cancer treatment, children receive a new Bead of Courage. The beads join together to form (often long) physical representations of their recovery, keeping a record of every hospital trip and treatment on their courageous journey.

Oncology/Haematology

The Oncology and Haematology programme is available through the hospital to all children in the UK.

The Programme supports any baby, child, teen or young adult (0-24yrs) going through any cancer treatment or haematology treatment on cancer wards.

Oncology is supported from induction, through treatment, surgeries, maintenance and hopefully to the end of treatment, upon which they will receive a purple heart as a symbol of the battle they faced.

Haematology is supported through their entire treatment, up until the transfer to adult services, where members will receive their red heart as an acknowledgment to their battle and maturing in to an adult.

Siblings

Having a child with a serious or life-threatening illness doesn’t just impact on the patients. Siblings suffer in very different but very real ways.

Many of the beads in the sibling pack are in the shape of animals, and they are here to share their attributes with them. Siblings already have so many qualities, and the animals are here to help guide, walk, fly, or swim along with them on their own personal journey.

Animal friends or guides can be a reflection of our deepest self, and also represent the qualities we need in this world. We hope the special meaning of the animal beads will give them the courage to deal with challenging situations in life and help them recognise their own abilities and strengths.