NEW RareChat announced!

Join us on the 13th July to share your experiences on receiving a genetic diagnosis and the gene-focused future of medicine.

With over 80% of rare diseases having a genetic basis, it is more important than ever that patients really understand the processes and outcomes of genetic testing, sequencing, and diagnosis.

Come share your thoughts!

NEW webinar - Learn how to diversify your Board of Trustees!

Join us on the 12th July for an introduction to how to diversify your charity’s Board of Trustees.

We’ll be joined by Kathryn Sullivan, Course Director for Getting on Board’s Transform programme, to learn how to successfully run an open recruitment process, whilst keeping diversity at its heart.

We're hiring! Apply to be our new Fundraising Manager

We’re seeking an experienced Fundraising Manager to bring knowledge, initiative and fresh ideas to help establish a new fundraising strategy that’ll set the charity up for its next decade of change.

This role is suitable for an experienced fundraiser who is looking for an opportunity with strategic and managerial input.

View the full job description now and either share or apply today!

It's our 10th birthday!

Go down memory lane with us to see what we’ve achieved over the last decade.

Register for FREE on our brand-new Resources Hub!

The Resources Hub is a 100% free e-learning platform that is full of exclusive content that guides patient groups through every stage of their rare disease journey.

Discover what you could achieve on The Hub today!

We've joined the REMEDi4ALL drug repurposing project!

REMEDi4ALL is a new flagship EU-funded research initiative to drive the repurposing of medicines across the UK and Europe. We’re one of 24 UK and European partners working to repurpose medicines to treat some of the world’s rarest and most neglected conditions.

Findacure has become Beacon!

Bear with us while we make this website mobile-friendly

We understand there will be mobile navigation issues to resolve on our new site. Please bear with us as we work on them.

Ensuring that no one faces their rare journey alone

Beacon (formerly known as Findacure) is a UK-based charity that is building a united rare disease community with patient groups at its heart. We envision a world in which no one faces their rare journey alone. Our charity upskills rare disease patient groups through trainings, guided programmes, community projects and research initiatives. We help these groups maximise their impact and deliver change for the world’s often neglected rare disease patients.

Rare diseases affect between 3.5% (263 million) and 5.9% (446 million) of the global population. Sadly, this population struggles to receive a diagnosis, treatment or meet another with the same condition. Patient groups are a lifeline for those living with a rare disease. They provide emotional support and advice for day-to-day living. Patient groups are the impetus behind new care pathways and treatments.

We are here to help those groups be the best that they can be.

Ensuring that no one faces their rare journey alone

Beacon (formerly known as Findacure) is a UK-based charity that is building a united rare disease community with patient groups at its heart. We envision a world in which no one faces their rare journey alone. Our charity upskills rare disease patient groups through trainings, guided programmes, community projects and research initiatives. We help these groups maximise their impact and deliver change for the world’s often neglected rare disease patients.

Rare diseases affect between 3.5% (263 million) and 5.9% (446 million) of the global population. Sadly, this population struggles to receive a diagnosis, treatment or meet another with the same condition. Patient groups are a lifeline for those living with a rare disease. They provide emotional support and advice for day-to-day living. Patient groups are the impetus behind new care pathways and treatments.

We are here to help those groups be the best that they can be.

What we do

Patient group training

Our in-person, virtual and on-demand trainings give patient organisations the tools and confidence they need to form, grow and professionalise.

Rare Community

Our community projects unite patient groups, researchers, healthcare professionals and industry representatives to encourage collaborations, advancing the field of rare diseases.

Rare disease research

Our drug repurposing conference and research projects aim to bring crucial new treatments to the world’s rarest patients.

Patient group training

Our in-person, virtual and on-demand trainings give patient organisations the tools and confidence they need to form, grow and professionalise.

Rare Community

Our community projects unite patient groups, researchers, healthcare professionals and industry representatives to encourage collaborations, advancing the field of rare diseases.

Rare disease research

Our drug repurposing conference and research projects aim to bring crucial new treatments to the world’s rarest patients.

Meet our patient groups

Meet Amanda, Trustee and Chair of The EOS Network

Amanda’s two children, Samuel and Heather, were born with eosinophilic gastrointestinal disease (EGID) which makes eating incredibly painful.

Meet Wendy, Chair of the Norrie Disease Foundation

Wendy’s son was born with Norrie disease, a rare genetic condition that causes blindness, hearing loss and developmental delays.

Meet Bhavna, CEO of Stargardt’s Connected

Bhavna’s world changed forever when her seven-year-old son, Ethan, was diagnosed with Stargardt’s: an inherited, condition that slowly leads to sight loss.

Meet Allison, co-founder of Ring 20 Research and Support UK

As a carer of a son diagnosed with ring 20 syndrome, Allison Watson increasingly felt the need for a patient group that would provide support and advice to help families and patients cope with the condition.

Meet Russell, Trustee of the LHON Society

Russell’s son lost his sight over a matter of weeks at the age of 24 due to LHON, a rare hereditary condition.

Upcoming events

Calendar of Events

M Mon

T Tue

W Wed

T Thu

F Fri

S Sat

S Sun

0 events,

0 events,

0 events,

0 events,

0 events,

0 events,

0 events,

0 events,

0 events,

0 events,

0 events,

0 events,

0 events,

0 events,

0 events,

0 events,

0 events,

0 events,

0 events,

0 events,

0 events,

0 events,

0 events,

0 events,

0 events,

0 events,

0 events,

0 events,

0 events,

0 events,

0 events,

0 events,

0 events,

0 events,

0 events,

What’s happening at Beacon?

Apply to be our new Fundraising Manager!

Apply to be our new Fundraising Manager!

Following a successful decade of operation, we are now seeking an experienced Fundraising Manager to bring knowledge, initiative and fresh ideas to help establish a new fundraising strategy that’ll set the charity up for its next decade of change. View job description!

Read our latest blog

Meet our patient groups

Meet Russell, Trustee of the LHON Society

Russell’s son lost his sight over a matter of weeks at the age of 24 due to LHON, a rare hereditary condition.

Meet Amanda, Trustee and Chair of The EOS Network

Amanda’s two children, Samuel and Heather, were born with eosinophilic gastrointestinal disease (EGID) which makes eating incredibly painful.

Meet Allison, co-founder of Ring 20 Research and Support UK

As a carer of a son diagnosed with ring 20 syndrome, Allison Watson increasingly felt the need for a patient group that would provide support and advice to help families and patients cope with the condition.

Meet Bhavna, CEO of Stargardt’s Connected

Bhavna’s world changed forever when her seven-year-old son, Ethan, was diagnosed with Stargardt’s: an inherited, condition that slowly leads to sight loss.

Meet Wendy, Chair of the Norrie Disease Foundation

Wendy’s son was born with Norrie disease, a rare genetic condition that causes blindness, hearing loss and developmental delays.

Upcoming events

Calendar of Events

M Mon

T Tue

W Wed

T Thu

F Fri

S Sat

S Sun

0 events,

0 events,

0 events,

0 events,

0 events,

0 events,

0 events,

0 events,

0 events,

0 events,

0 events,

0 events,

0 events,

0 events,

0 events,

0 events,

0 events,

0 events,

0 events,

0 events,

0 events,

0 events,

0 events,

0 events,

0 events,

0 events,

0 events,

0 events,

0 events,

0 events,

0 events,

0 events,

0 events,

0 events,

0 events,

What’s happening at Beacon?

Apply to be our new Fundraising Manager!

Apply to be our new Fundraising Manager!

Following a successful decade of operation, we are now seeking an experienced Fundraising Manager to bring knowledge, initiative and fresh ideas to help establish a new fundraising strategy that’ll set the charity up for its next decade of change. View job description!

Read our latest blog

How Beacon can help you

Click on the link which best describes you. We’ll point you to our most relevant pages and additional places for support within the rare disease community.

How Beacon can help you

Click on the link which best describes you. We’ll point you to our most relevant pages and additional places for support within the rare disease community.

Support our mission

 

At Beacon, we want to ensure that no one walks their rare journey alone. To achieve this, rare diseases must be viewed under one, united umbrella by patient groups, researchers and policymakers alike. Our work encourages patient organisations to work together for the benefit of all rare conditions. The pharmaceutical industry and research sectors must recognise the importance of the patient voice.

Work with us to make this happen! Discover our corporate giving and community fundraising opportunities to learn how you can bring hope to millions of people around the world. Each pound you give will help to break the isolation experienced by rare patients around the world.

Wolfram Syndrome UK testimonial

“Beacon have been there helping me to connect with other Rare Disease Charity communities…”

Ataxia and Me testimonial

“It has been fantastic to be in this rare disease family knowing you are not alone in this rare disease community.”

FOP Friends testimonial

Beacon’s programmes, trainings, webinars, support, student voice prize, connections, and of course RareChat sessions, have all been fantastic.

MdDS Information and Help testimonial

“Beacon, was my metaphorical lighthouse in a stormy sea when I started advocating for people with Mal de Debarquement Syndrome in the UK”

Behçet’s UK testimonial

“Without the help of Beacon I could not have achieved what I have as chair of Behçet’s UK this past 4-years.”

Metabolic Support UK testimonial

“As we elevate our individual support, empowerment, advocacy, and insight offers, we hope to partner with Beacon on future campaigns…”

Pitt Hopkins UK testimonial

“There has been advice about how to become a charity, how to fundraise, how to work with researchers. They think of everything!”

Alexion, AstraZeneca Rare Disease testimonial

“We believe that Beacon, as an umbrella organization, helps bring the rare disease community together…”

Castleman Disease Collaborative Network testimonial

“Patient groups like Beacon provide critical information and resources to help the rare disease community get closer to treatments for devastating illnesses.”

Support our mission

 

At Beacon, we want to ensure that no one walks their rare journey alone. To achieve this, rare diseases must be viewed under one, united umbrella by patient groups, researchers and policymakers alike.

Our work encourages patient organisations to work together for the benefit of all rare conditions. The pharmaceutical industry and research sectors must recognise the importance of the patient voice.

Work with us to make this happen! Discover our corporate giving and community fundraising opportunities to learn how you can bring hope to millions of people around the world. Each pound you give will help to break the isolation experienced by rare patients around the world.