05:00, 03 April 2026
Words by Cheyanne Bryan, Editorial and Campaign Marketing Executive, London
Enter Cartwheel for a Cure, a campaign that has captured hearts, sparked movement, and now surpassed an extraordinary £100,000 fundraising milestone in under a year.
At its centre is Lucy Musgrave OBE, a woman whose response to one of life’s harshest diagnoses has become a powerful symbol of hope, resilience, and collective action.
Lucy’s journey began in September 2021 when she was told she had Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML), an aggressive and fast-moving form of blood cancer that comes with stark statistics and urgent timelines.
Without immediate treatment, long-term survival was not viable, so soon followed a gruelling period of intensive chemotherapy, long hospital stays, and isolation — six months of acute treatment, followed by a year of maintenance therapy.
And yet, through it all, Lucy made a conscious choice: to hold on to positivity. Not just for herself, but for the people who mattered most; her husband, her daughters, and the wider circle of loved ones willing her through.
From this spirit, Cartwheel for a Cure was born in June 2025 in partnership with Leukaemia UK. The mission is as ambitious as it is urgent: to raise £200,000 to fund pioneering research into kinder, more effective treatments for leukaemia. That the campaign has already reached the halfway point of £100,000, which is not just a testament to Lucy’s determination, but to the public’s willingness to rally behind something joyful, human, and deeply meaningful.
As part of the campaign, Lucy has extended her daily cartwheels to invite the nation to join her - just by doing one cartwheel a day. It’s not just about donating; it is about participating, sharing, and feeling part of a collective effort to make a difference.
Survivorship can be the beginning, not just an end. Lucy Musgrave’s daily cartwheel is, in many ways, a simple act. But its impact is anything but. It is a gesture of gratitude, a call to action, and a celebration of life’s resilience. The whole campaign builds to underscore the vital importance of continued investment in medical research, so that more people facing a diagnosis like Lucy’s can look toward a future filled with possibility.
To find out more and support the campaign, visit justgiving.com/campaign/cartwheel-for-a-cure, or watch Lucy’s daily cartwheels on Instagram: @lucy.musgrave
At Smiley Movement, we like to elevate the work of charities across the world. Here are three charities whose causes align with the themes in this article.
Leukaemia UK. This UK’s leading leukaemia charity. Their efforts are focused on funding life-changing research and bringing together the community. Learn more here.
Anthony Nolan. This charity runs the UK’s largest stem cell register, helping across the globe with scientific advancements to discover cures and treatments for blood cancer and blood disorders. Discover their work here.
Blood Cancer UK. This charity has the goal to accelerate transformative climate solutions and build a more just world, specifically working in the UK and Global South. Find out more here.
This positive news article aligns with the UN SDG Good Health and Wellbeing.
Photo credits: Headshot - Jenny Zains
In a twist that feels remarkable, a stem cell transplant was ultimately not required. Lucy entered remission, carrying with her not only relief, but a renewed sense of purpose.
On 1st January 2023, Lucy performed a cartwheel. The next day, she did another. Then another. What began as a personal act of joy and defiance grew into a daily ritual, one that has now spanned continents, inspired thousands online, and evolved into a national movement.
