Kirsty Waugh is on a nationwide mission in aid of charity
Kirsty Waugh, 11, with Kirsty Gilmour, the UK’s number one badminton player, who became the campaign’s first official “find” (Image: supplied image)
An 11-year-old girl living with a brain tumour has appealed for any Kirsty or Kirstie in Hull to get in touch. Kirsty Waugh is looking for her namesakes to help raise funds to support research into childhood brain tumours.
Kirsty, from Royal Tunbridge Wells, launched a unique UK-wide fundraising campaign calling on people across the country to join her on a quest for 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 her 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 said: “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 has already identified more than 7,500 people named Kirsty or Kirstie and has raised more than £66,000 for the charity, set up 12 years ago in memory of nine-year-old Oscar Hughes, from York.
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. Other supporters include presenter Kirstie Allsopp, who surprised Kirsty when she appeared on BBC Breakfast; 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 Antarctica 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 www.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.
So far, Kirsty has been able to track down 53 Kirstys in Hull. It is likely, from her calculations, that there are more than 150 across the city.
So far she has raised £69,000, all of which will be spent on projects to find kinder, better treatments. Last year, Kirsty raised £120,000 for a children’s cancer charity; this year, she wanted to focus specifically on research.
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