National ‘Spot Leukaemia’ Campaign Launches with support from JCDecaux Community Channel

More than 150 Billboards Across the UK Will Raise Awareness of the Signs and Symptoms of Leukaemia from 28 May - World Blood Cancer Day

Sophie Wheldon, acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) patient standing outside a Spot Leukaemia billboard in Birmingham, West Midlands.

Two of the UK’s leading blood cancer charities, Leukaemia Care and Leukaemia UK, have joined forces once again to launch their annual Spot Leukaemia campaign, and this year, the message will be impossible to miss.

In a powerful show of support, JCDecaux Community Channel, an initiative from the UK’s leading out-of-home media owner JCDecaux UK, has partnered with the charities to run the campaign on digital billboards across the country, reinforcing the campaign’s urgent message.

It will run from 28 May (World Blood Cancer Day) through to the end of June, with bold, eye-catching ads designed to educate the public about the early signs and symptoms of leukaemia.

You can find your local billboard by using our interactive map online here.

Despite being one of the most common forms of cancer, public awareness of leukaemia symptoms remains critically low. In fact, a 2024 survey commissioned for the Spot Leukaemia campaign and conducted by YouGov1 revealed that less than 1% of the public knew what the symptoms of leukaemia were.

Early diagnosis saves lives, but too often, the signs of leukaemia go unrecognised.

The Spot Leukaemia campaign urges the public to visit www.spotleukaemia.org.uk to learn about the key symptoms, or to speak to a GP and ask for a blood test if they are experiencing any of the warning signs.

Common symptoms include:

• Persistent fatigue

• Unusual bruising

• Bleeding

• Repeated infections

Colin Dyer, CEO of Leukaemia Care, said: “We’re incredibly proud to be working with Leukaemia UK and JCDecaux to bring Spot Leukaemia to the streets across the UK.

“Unfortunately, many people aren’t aware of the signs and symptoms of leukaemia until they or someone they know is diagnosed, which is why this campaign is so important.

“Through the #SpotLeukaemia campaign, we want to ensure that everyone knows what symptoms to look out for and what to do if they are worried about a possible leukaemia diagnosis. The sooner you are diagnosed the better your treatment outcome. Early diagnosis saves lives.”

Fiona Hazell, CEO of Leukaemia UK, said: “Unlike solid tumours, leukaemia can usually be diagnosed by a simple full blood count test.  Unfortunately, many people aren’t aware of the signs and symptoms of leukaemia until they or someone they know is diagnosed, which can lead to dangerous delays in diagnosis.

“Early diagnosis saves lives, so we want to make sure more people are aware of the signs and symptoms and know to contact their GP to ask for a blood test if they’re experiencing them. Together, we can stop leukaemia from devastating so many lives.”

Steve Moore, UK category partner at JCDecaux UK, said: “The JCDecaux Community Channel is proud to support this vital campaign, raising awareness of the early signs and symptoms of leukaemia. Our Community Channel was created to open up access to Out-of-Home media for charitable initiatives and communities, ensuring important messages like this reach people across the UK.”

Nearly 10,000 people are diagnosed with leukaemia every year in the UK, that's 28 people every day, and that it’s responsible for around 4,800 deaths annually in the UK, this campaign is a timely reminder that knowledge saves lives.

For more information visit www.spotleukaemia.org.uk