Wednesday 22 December 1999
People are more likely to support cancer or leukaemia research than other medical research, a MORI poll commissioned by the Institute of Cancer Research has revealed.
The survey also showed that two-thirds of adults have already made or, if asked, would be willing to make a donation to a cancer charity at Christmas.
When asked which charities they would be willing to support year-round, the poll confirmed that of the different types of medical research, cancer research is a priority to the British public - with four in five adults saying they would support cancer or leukaemia research. Heart disease was found to be the second highest priority at 50% followed by AIDS research at 25%.
Almost half the public (47%) has bought or would be prepared, if asked, to buy products where some of the purchase price would be donated to cancer charities. Around two in three adults said they would be willing to carry out two or more supportive activities for a cancer charity, if asked.
Chief Executive of the Institute of Cancer Research, Dr Peter Rigby said: "This survey is very encouraging. A recent report found that individual donations to charity have fallen by 31% in the last five years* but the results of our poll indicate that people still think giving to cancer charities at Christmas is very important."
In addition, the survey also found that over two in five adults (43%) have ordered, or would be inclined to order, cancer charities' Christmas cards. Likelihood of ordering Christmas cards is highest among broadsheet readers (55%), part-time workers (54%), ABs (53%) and women (47%).
Other activities which people would be inclined to do for a cancer charity at Christmas include: becoming involved in a campaign (8%), becoming a member of a charity (7%) or specifying the cancer charity as a beneficiary in their will (7%). This 7% translates into over 3 million adults and therefore represents a potentially large source of income for cancer charities.
Interestingly, likelihood to make a donation to a cancer charity is higher in Scotland, and among those with a total household income of £30,000 or more. Both groups would be more likely than average to donate to a cancer charity at Christmas, if asked (75% in each case), as would ABs and broadsheet readers (74% in each case).
When it came to people's preferred type of medical charity, cancer research came well ahead of the other nine options in the survey. Support for medical research charities is second only to children's charities as the public's favourite type of charity. However, over half of those who would be prepared to support children's charities would also be inclined to support medical research.
The Institute is Europe's largest comprehensive cancer research centre through its unique relationship with the Royal Marsden Hospital. It was rated the UK's top cancer research centre in a recent government assessment.
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For more information, please contact the Institute of Cancer Research press office on:-
Tel: 0171 970 6030
email: [email protected]
or contact Michele Corrado or Anna Carluccio at MORI on 0171 928 5955.
Notes to Editors
- ICM research for the NCVO in January 1998 found that individual donations to charity have fallen by around 31% in real terms since 1993.
Technical Note:
MORI interviewed a representative quota sample of 2,003 adults aged 15+ in 159 sampling points throughout Great Britain. Fieldwork was conducted from 19 - 22 November 1999. All interviews were conducted in-home. Data have been weighted to the known profile of the British population.
Please note:
Unfortunately the press office are unable to answer queries from the general public. For general cancer information please refer to The Institute's cancer information page.