11-year-old launches UK-wide appeal to find every Kirsty and Kirstie to help raise funds to support research into childhood brain tumours
11-year-old cancer patient, Kirsty Waugh from Royal Tunbridge Wells has launched a unique UK-wide fundraising campaign calling on the whole of the UK and beyond to join her on a quest for fellow Kirstys.
Her aim is to find all her namesakes nationwide while helping raise vital funds for OSCAR’s Paediatric Brain Tumour Charity, supporting urgently needed research into kinder, more effective treatments for children.
Kirsty was diagnosed with a brain tumour in November 2024 and is currently receiving weekly chemotherapy. After over a year of treatment, her next course of chemotherapy is expected to continue for approximately 80 weeks. The fun campaign aims to turn national attention into meaningful action and consideration of what children like children have to go through when diagnosed, by encouraging people across the UK to add themselves to the growing community of Kirstys and supporters on the mynameiskirsty.com website.
Kirsty told us, “Treatment is tough for all kids with brain tumours: I’ve lost a lot of hair, had blood transfusions, gone to hospital a lot…and that’s why research needs to be done to find kinder treatments. Only 3p in every £100 of government funding into cancer research goes to help children like me.”
The campaign aims to turn has already identified over 6,400 people named Kirsty or Kirstie and has raised more than £62,000 for OSCAR’s Paediatric Brain Tumour Charity, set up 12 years ago in memory of 9-year-old Oscar Hughes from York.
Kirstys dad told DGWGO “She started a couple of weeks ago, and thanks to some media this week it’s gone stratospheric – we’ve even found one in Antarctica. The vast majority of them are in the UK although the proportionate number skews north of the border as you might expect, Dumfries & Galloway comes out a clear winner. We’ve found many, many more Kirstys in D&G than we’d expect for the population.”
Is it because there are more to be found? Are they kinder and more responsive in your area?! Who knows!
The idea gained momentum following a meeting with Kirsty Gilmour, the UK’s number one badminton player, who became the campaign’s first official “find” after the pair met at the All England Badminton Championships. There have been messages of support from presenters Kirstie Allsop and Kirsty Gallacher, children’s author Kirsty Applebaum, Davina McCall (who underwent brain tumour surgery in 2024) and Heart FM’s Jamie Theakston, who featured Kirsty on his show.
The appeal is now focused on reaching more Kirstys and Kirsties across Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and England, as well as anyone who wants to support children affected by brain tumours. There are also Kirstys as far afield as Australia, New Zealand and Canada involved. Kirsty’s dad, Mat, said, “Every time a Kirsty or a supporter is added to the map, and every donation made, gives Kirsty a lift. It’s such a difficult time for her and us as a family. It is amazing that she will be responsible for helping to fund research, but it is doubly-amazing that people are taking time out to think of her and put a big smile on her face when she needs it most.”
How to take part
- People named Kirsty or Kirstie can add themselves to the campaign via: mynameiskirsty.com
- Follow and share the campaign on Instagram: @mynameis.kirsty
- Supporters can also share the appeal and encourage friends, family and colleagues named Kirsty or Kirstie to get involved.
- Kirstys or Kirsties can gather their own group of supporters and do fundraising such as a ‘Cakes for Kirsty’ stall or running ‘5K for Kirsty’ and so on
One partner. No competitors. Full visibility across the region.
