Saving Faces and Surgeon Neil Shah partner to raise funds for a Professor in Clinical Trials in Oral Cancer

Oral cancer is rising sharply with 390,000 new cases each year and more than 500 deaths every day.

Together we can SAVE LIVES

Saving Faces is partnering with Consultant Oral & Maxillofacial / Head & Neck Surgeon and Patron Neil Shah to raise funds for a Professor in Clinical Trials in Oral Cancer. This is an international role dedicated to advancing research, enabling earlier diagnosis and improving treatment for future patients.

Neil’s Story:

Neil has over 25 years’ experience operating on some of the most complex cancers of the mouth, face and neck.

In 2025, he developed the very disease he has dedicated his life to detecting early.

The tumour was small but highly aggressive, requiring radical tongue surgery, neck dissection, free-flap reconstruction and radiotherapy.

Neil’s illness exposed something felt by clinicians and patients worldwide:

Oral cancer is rising sharply – with nearly 390,000 new cases each year and more than 500 deaths every day. Globally, incidence has increased by almost 60% over the past three decades, yet survival has barely improved.

In many populations, the disease is becoming more aggressive, striking earlier and progressing faster than before.

He co-authored the SEND Trial, led early-diagnosis work across London, and pioneered the UK’s first validated tele-triage model for oral cancer.

Yet the behaviour of his own cancer revealed how much more research is needed, and how many lives could be improved through stronger evidence and better pathways.

The support for Neil made one thing clear: this is the moment to turn compassion into progress –  and to build the research foundation facial cancer urgently needs.

Together with Saving Faces, he is helping to establish a new Professorship to build the research and clinical trials that future patients deserve.

How you can help:

If you would like to support this work, any contribution – small or large – will help improve treatment and outcomes for patients across the UK and beyond. You can donate on Justgiving here or via bank transfer to:

Account Name: Saving Faces
Bank: Santander
Sort Code: 09-06-66
Account Number: 40769363

Thank you.

Carols at Christmas Concert – 12th December 2025

Our annual Carols at Christmas concert will take place on Friday 12th December 2025 at the beautiful Saint Bartholomew the Great in London.

The concert will commence at 6.30pm. This will be a great chance to meet up with friends and other supporters, many of whom are patients and their families. This is also our way to say thank you to all our supporters for their continued support of our important work.

How to get to the Priory Church of Saint Bartholomew the Great

Bus: The 17, 45, 46, 63, 8, 25, 56, 4, 153, 242, 521, 100, 243 and 341 buses are all within walking distance of the church.

Tube: Barbican or Farringdon (Circle, Metropolitan and Hammersmith & City lines) / St Paul’s (Central line)

Elizabeth Line (Crossrail): The Farringdon Elizabeth Line Station has an exit called “Barbican” in Long Lane, West Smithfield.

Parking: The nearest car parks are in Beech Street (under the Barbican) and West Smithfield.

 

RSVP: The event is free but spaces are limited (250 attendees). Please email info@savingfaces.co.uk to confirm your attendence.

Christmas Carols Concert – 13th December 2024

We are back with our annual Carols at Christmas concert on Friday 13th December 2024 at the beautiful Saint Bartholomew the Great in London.

The service will commence at 6.30pm. This will be a great chance to meet up with friends and other supporters, many of whom are patients and their families. This is also our way to say thank you to all our supporters for their continued support of our important work.

At the event, we are raising funds to create The Alan Rickman Professorship of Facial Surgery. Learn more about our mission and donate here www.alanrickmanprof.org/donate

How to get to the Priory Church of Saint Bartholomew the Great

Bus: The 17, 45, 46, 63, 8, 25, 56, 4, 153, 242, 521, 100, 243 and 341 buses are all within walking distance of the church.

Tube: Barbican or Farringdon (Circle, Metropolitan and Hammersmith & City lines) / St Paul’s (Central line)

Elizabeth Line (Crossrail): The Farringdon Elizabeth Line Station has an exit called “Barbican” in Long Lane, West Smithfield.

Parking: The nearest car parks are in Beech Street (under the Barbican) and West Smithfield.

RSVP: The event is free but spaces are limited (250 attendees). Please RSVP with our friendly team at info@savingfaces.co.uk or ring 07487 235 438.

Baroness Helena Kennedy KC appointed to the Order of the Thistle

Saving Faces Patron Baroness Helena Kennedy KC has been appointed by the King to the Order of the Thistle.

The Order of the Thistle represents the highest honour in Scotland, recognising Scottish men and women who have held public office or who have contributed in a particular way to national life.

The Order of the Thistle can only be bestowed by the King himself and recognises people who have help public office or have made a particular contribution to national life.

Baroness Kennedy was honoured in recognition of the importance of her pioneering work in advancing human rights and social justice both in the UK and internationally.

03/07/2024. London, UK. The Prince of Wales joins Their Majesties The King and Queen, The Duke of Rothesay and other Members of the Royal Family as they attend the Thistle Service at St Giles Cathedral. Pictured: Baroness Kennedy. Picture by Andrew Parsons / Kensington Palace

You can read more about the Order of the Thistle here.

Mr Ian Martin

Saving Faces are sad to hear of the passing of Mr Ian Martin, Consultant Oral and Maxillofacial surgeon.

Mr Martin was a friend of Saving Faces Chief Executive, Professor Iain Hutchison, was President of British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (BAOMS) in 2018, and Chair of NCEPOD.

Mr Martin was also a key speaker at The National Facial, Oral and Oculoplastic Research Centre (NFORC) launch in 2014.

With deepest condolences to Mr Martin’s family – may he rest in peace.

Photo courtesy of BAOMS

https://x.com/BAOMSOfficial/status/1795771622823235959 

Saving Faces and the European Association for Cranio-Maxillofacial-Facial Surgery (EACMFS) partnership

Saving Faces will be partnering with the European Association for Cranio-Maxillofacial-Facial Surgery (EACMFS) for 3 years to serve education and excellence in clinical practice in the UK and across Europe.

The themes of the project will cover fields such as guidelines and protocols related to oral and maxillofacial surgery.

Mr Nick Kalavrezos, Senior President (Elect) of the EACMFS will formerly announce the project during their General Assembly in Rome in September 2024.

The Chief Executive of Saving Faces, Professor Iain Hutchison, is delighted about this new partnership and looks forward to working with the EACMFS.

Orlaith O’Rourke is running the Newry 10k for Saving Faces

Update 30/05/24 – Congratulations to Orlaith for completing the Newry 10k run and thank you for raising over £1200!

Orlaith O’Rourke will be running the Newry 10k Run on the 26th May 2024 in aid of Saving Faces.
As a child Orlaith had a parotid tumour removed from her face which had been rapidly growing since she was 1. After reaching out to Saving Faces, she was brought over to London for life changing surgery.
You can read more about Orlaith in the articles below and here, and donate to her fundraising page here.

Tribute to Hella Pick from Saving Faces

Hella Pick, the world-renowned foreign correspondent and diplomatic reporter, died in hospital last night (4th April 2024) from pneumonia.

Hella was a proud and active supporter of Saving Faces often encouraging friends to join us. She loved music so attending our Christmas Carol Concert with friends was a must on her calendar. In the last few months, she helped our Chief Executive Iain Hutchison design a short booklet illustrating our research for the general public. We will use this booklet to illustrate the need for a research professor in facial surgery and raise the funds to employ them.

Hella was born in Vienna in 1928, 19 years after Iain Hutchison’s mother, Martha (1909). It is unlikely that they ever met, but both left Austria in 1938 and spent the rest of their lives as citizens of the United Kingdom, (Iain Hutchison’s mother was a GP).

Iain always saw similarities between Hella and Martha, most notably their physical and emotional stamina and determination. However, Hella was also charming, elegant, a terrific cook and loved entertaining.

When Hella was admitted to hospital this time, she listed Iain as her next of kin. Iain felt that might be because of their Viennese connection, or just that he was in recent years, particularly since her fall and fractured neck, her regular pro bono adviser providing advice on who best to see, or simply explaining the pros and cons of what was being suggested.

In this last hospital visit it’s no surprise to those who knew her well that over the last few days she remained strong in body and mind controlling all decisions, informing all her phone contacts and keeping her hand on the phone, even during sleep, so that she wouldn’t miss out on talking to somebody!

At the end, she still wanted more, but was uncompromising once she had made her decision, not wanting to live out her days away from her home unable to walk, unable to take food normally or see people, except surrounded by medical instruments and tubes.

What a magnificent woman and what a life she has led. We know that many people around the world will miss her and cherish the time that they spent with her. We doubt that we will see her like again.

Professor Bob Woodwards

Saving Faces are sad to hear of the passing of Professor Bob Woodwards, Consultant Oral and Maxillofacial surgeon.

Professor Woodwards was a friend of Saving Faces Chief Executive, Professor Iain Hutchison, and was President of British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (BAOMS) in 2011.

Our thoughts are with his wife Claire during this challenging time. May he rest in peace.

Photo courtesy of BAOMS

https://x.com/BAOMSOfficial/status/1772224050250522667?s=20 

Christmas Carols Concert – 11th December 2023

Update 12/12/2023 – We hope everyone who attended our Christmas Carols enjoyed the event at the St Bartholomew the Great, West Smithfield yesterday. Thank you to Chelsea Opera Group for providing the beautiful music and thank you Jon Snow for the festive readings.


 

We are back with our annual Carols at Christmas concert on Monday 11th December 2023 at the beautiful Saint Bartholomew the Great in London.

The service will commence at 6.30pm. This will be a great chance to meet up with friends and other supporters, many of whom are patients and their families. This is also our way to say thank you to all our supporters for their continued support of our important work.

Click here to view the full invitation and donation form. If you would like to make a donation, please print and return the form to info@savingfaces.co.uk or by post to: Saving Faces, 71 Tonbridge Street, London, WC1H 9DZ.

How to get to the Priory Church of Saint Bartholomew the Great

Bus: The 17, 45, 46, 63, 8, 25, 56, 4, 153, 242, 521, 100, 243 and 341 buses are all within walking distance of the church.

Tube: Barbican or Farringdon (Circle, Metropolitan and Hammersmith & City lines) / St Paul’s (Central line)

Elizabeth Line (Crossrail): The Farringdon Elizabeth Line Station has an exit called “Barbican” in Long Lane, West Smithfield.

Parking: The nearest car parks are in Beech Street (under the Barbican) and West Smithfield.

RSVP

The event is free but spaces are limited (250 attendees). Please RSVP with our friendly team at info@savingfaces.co.uk or ring 07487 235 438 / 020 3417 7757.