The Candis story so far…

It was in 1962 that Joseph K Douglas set up the Cancer and Polio research Fund after losing friends and family to cancer. Twenty-four thousand members entered the weekly football pool organised by Newhall Publications’ predecessor Pembroke Promotions, which supported medical research with regular donations. This is where Candis has its roots.

Getting bigger and better:

By 1971 a fortnightly newsletter, costing 15 new pence, was published. It reported on the work of the Cancer and Polio Research Fund (CPRF). At this time the CPRF was supporting the Imperial Cancer Research Fund and the National Fund for Research into Crippling Diseases through research grants. It also still included the football pool.
In 1978 Candis’s founder, Joseph Douglas, was awarded the Officer of the Order of the British Empire for his services to medical charities.
The JK Douglas Cancer Research Laboratories were established at Clatterbridge Hospital on the Wirral in 1980.
A new look, full-colour newsletter was introduced in 1981. Costing 60 pence it contained more reports on the medical research initiatives members were funding, the football pool and reader competitions.
HRH Princess Alexandra opened the Douglas Cyclotorn Centre in Clatterbridge Hospital in 1984. Members’ subscriptions had raised over £750,000 for this unique cancer treatment centre named after the founder of Candis.
By 1985 the newsletter had grown to a 28-page magazine (and a free prize draw, promoted by the newly formed Newhall Publications, replaced the football pool). In 1986 a competition was held for members to come up with a new, catchier name for the magazine with its wider range of features. Candis was the clear winner.
In the late 1990s a new-look Candis continued to bring readers the best features, news, health advice, interviews and information in a 124-page full-colour format magazine. A great new range of Club benefits brought members huge savings and more members than ever joined the Club on specially organised events and holidays.
In July 2002, after 40 years, the hand delivery of the magazine to customers by agents was replaced by a speedier postal fulfilment system, ensuring members receive their magazine on time. Today the Club has almost 300,000 members.
In October 2002 the first perfect-bound issue of Candis was published and by Christmas 2003 the magazine had grown further in size to 148 pages.
In November 2006 Newhall received the JP Morgan Family Business Honours Award in the category of Corporate Social Responsibility.
In May 2007 the first 164-page Candis was published, bringing members even more of the lively mix of information and features every month.