Applications now open!
We are globally inviting charities and non-profit organisations working in rare diseases to apply for pro bono support from Costello Medical, together with a one-off donation of up to £50,000 (or local currency equivalent), both directed towards the same project.
Find the eligibility criteria below. Applications close on Sunday 27th September 2026, 23:59 BST.
Annabel Griffiths joined Costello Medical in 2015, founded our Rare Diseases division in 2018, and went on to lead rare disease teams across the globe – mentoring colleagues, strengthening our partnerships in the field, and being instrumental in shaping the company as a part of our leadership team. Following a diagnosis of a rare cancer in early 2024, she passed away on 1st March 2025. Annabel’s Legacy was established to remember and celebrate who she was, and to carry forward the work and values she cared about most.
Each year, we offer one charity or non-profit working in rare diseases a combination of pro bono support from the Costello Medical team and a one-off donation of up to £50,000, both directed towards the same project. It is our way of carrying forward Annabel’s extraordinary work: pairing professional expertise with meaningful funding so that organisations can step beyond their usual scope and deliver patient-centred outcomes for people living with rare diseases.
Ensure Annabel’s bravery continues to inspire real-world change
Back ambitious, collaborative work beyond a charity’s usual scope
Create lasting, tangible benefits for patients and families
Charities and non-profit organisations working in rare diseases are invited to apply for a combination of pro bono support from Costello Medical and a one-off donation of up to £50,000 (or local currency equivalent), to be used towards the same project.
If your organisation has a project where this combination of support from Costello Medical could help advance your aims, address an important challenge, or enable work beyond your usual scope, we would love to hear from you.
Applications close on Sunday 27th September 2026, 23:59 BST.
Eligibility Criteria:.
The CSF Leak Association are a charity dedicated to raising awareness, providing support, and advancing research for patients with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks. Through Annabel’s Project 2026, we are supporting their ambition to establish a CSF leak patient registry. The registry will support research, improve diagnosis and treatment, and inform evidence-based policy for a condition where the available data is currently limited and fragmented. This challenge reflects the power of real world evidence, a field Annabel was also instrumental in shaping at Costello Medical.
Our support includes:
Inspired by the positive impact Annabel made to the world around her, colleagues across Costello Medical take on challenges that channel her indomitable ‘can do’ spirit to fundraise for some truly special causes.
On Sunday 8th March 2026, 16 colleagues from across Costello Medical took on the Cambridge Half Marathon in Annabel’s memory.
In the lead‑up to the race, our team reflected on what it means to “be more Annabel” – to approach each day with courage, positivity, ambition, and a drive to make a meaningful impact, just as she did so effortlessly. Months of training through the cold and rain culminated in every runner crossing the finish line, cheered on by colleagues, friends and family gathered along the route.
Annabel spent her final days being cared for at Arthur Rank Hospice, and Team Costello completed the 13.1‑mile route in support of this truly impactful local charity. Thanks to the generosity of colleagues, friends, families and supporters, the team raised over £10,500 – helping sustain the essential and compassionate care Arthur Rank Hospice provides across the Cambridgeshire community.
The annual Annabel Griffiths Bravery Award celebrates colleagues across Costello Medical who have demonstrated exceptional personal bravery in their professional lives. Nominations are made by peers across the global company, and are reviewed and awarded to recipients by a senior internal panel.
Bravery can take many forms from stepping significantly outside one’s comfort zone, taking on a challenging project, starting a new venture, or showing resilience in the face of personal challenges. This award recognises those who act with courage in uncertain circumstances, with the potential to create new value, gain fresh learning, and inspire others along the way.
This award is a lasting tribute to Annabel’s bold and inspiring approach to life and work, encouraging us all to “be more Annabel” in our own journeys. Each year, recipients are recognised with a token of appreciation and the opportunity to nominate a charity to receive a £2,500 donation from Costello Medical, reflecting our commitment to being a force for good and ensuring that the impact of this award extends beyond our organisation.
On 30th March 2026, Annabel’s birthday, we proudly announced and celebrated this years’ recipients of the inaugural Annabel Griffiths Bravery Award. Comments from the judging panel below describe how this group has shown what it means to be bold despite uncertainty, persevere and learn through being challenged, and inspire colleagues to bring courage to their own work and daily lives.
“Tristan exemplified principled risk-taking that placed faith in the power of a collaborative and adaptable approach: hallmarks of our values. He brought bold and novel ideas to the table about what services our clients needed and backed it up by making these capabilities a reality.”
“Claudia’s nomination was a fantastic reminder about the need to be the catalyst for your own journey of learning, professional development and personal growth. Courage is the activation energy needed to repeatedly jump into new opportunities that test you and drive you forwards.”
“Patrick’s nomination stood out as an example of going all-in when committing to an opportunity. His approach demonstrated thoughtful-yet-courageous experimentation and rapid learning that has fostered a culture of idea sharing and bravery among the team.”
“Laura showed an ability to be brave in testing times. She recognised the need to jump in and act decisively to drive change, while simultaneously inspiring that degree of confidence and courage in others to join her in delivering change, together.”
In recognition of their bravery and continuing Annabel’s legacy of purpose-driven impact, our 2026 award recipients have nominated The Gumbi Education Fund, The Rare Disorders Society Singapore, The Legal Aid Society and Ovarian Cancer Action to each receive a £2,500 donation from Costello Medical.
Annabel Griffiths joined Costello Medical in 2015 and was a phenomenal force from the very start, giving her very best to the company every day. She spearheaded our Rare Diseases division in 2018, later leading rare disease teams across the globe and mentoring and inspiring many colleagues along the way. Her work strengthened our partnerships in the field, and her thought leadership left a lasting, positive impact on the rare disease sector. A respected and thoughtful voice on our leadership team, Annabel guided decisions in harmony with our core values.
In early 2024, Annabel was diagnosed with a rare cancer. She faced her illness with the same courage she brought to her work, receiving treatment at Addenbrooke’s Hospital and care at Arthur Rank Hospice, Cambridge, UK. She passed away on 1st March 2025, with her partner and soulmate, Philippe Collin, at her side.
Annabel changed the direction of Costello Medical for the better – forever. Words fall short in capturing the person she was: someone who approached life with positivity, humour, ambition, compassion and selflessness. She was among the finest this world has to offer, and it was a privilege to work alongside her.
To ensure Annabel remains a part of our company forever, and to honour the incredible work she inspired, we established Annabel’s Legacy in collaboration with Annabel’s family to remember who she was and celebrate the impact she made, carrying forward the goodness she championed through her work and the values she lived by.
