New Campaign To Help Beat Childhood Cancers
Around 130 children in our region are diagnosed with cancer every year - people are now being asked to back a new fundraising drive.
People in Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire are being urged to back a new campaign to help find cures and kinder treatments for children diagnosed with cancer.
Around 130 children in our region are diagnosed with some form of the disease every year.
Cancer Research UK's today launched a new fundraising drive and are asking people to buy a gold badge or donate any unwanted clothes to help fund their research into childhood cancers.
Lisa Millett is from the charity and told Viking FM:
“The disease can have a devastating impact, forcing children to show bravery beyond their years. Treatment can last for months, or even years, meaning long stays in hospital away from siblings and friends. “Unfortunately, some children also have to face living with side-effects from their treatment which last long into adult life. “That’s why we hope people across the region will back this vitally important campaign and help to ensure more children live long and healthy lives.”
There are lots of different ways to get involved including making a donation or organising a fundraising event. Supporters can also buy a gold ribbon pin badge – the awareness symbol for childhood cancers – available at most Cancer Research UK and TK Maxx stores across the UK. Lisa Millett added:
“More children are surviving cancer than ever before but the disease is the leading cause of death in under 25s in the UK, taking the lives of around 550 young people each year**. That’s why we urgently need more support. “We continue to fight for every child and every family and with the public’s help we hope to double the amount we spend on childhood cancers in the next five to 10 years. “By boosting funding now, the best research teams could offer children and their families new hope by developing cures and kinder treatments.” Innovative new treatments are available to children with cancer across the region. St James’s University Hospital in Leeds is one of 21 centres across the UK and Ireland taking part in groundbreaking research coordinated by Cancer Research UK’s Children's Cancer Trials Team. Research such as this has helped to transform the outlook for children with cancer in the UK and now three quarters of under-15s with the disease are cured compared with a quarter in the late 1960s.