People in Renfrewshire are being urged to clear out their wardrobes to help more children and young people survive cancer.
People can donate any pre-loved quality fashion and homeware to TK Maxx’s Give Up Clothes for Good campaign, in support of Cancer Research UK for Children & Young People. The activity is part of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month this September.
In Scotland, around 320 children and young people are diagnosed with cancer each year but research is making more precious moments possible for more youngsters and their families.
Cancer Research UK’s scientific breakthroughs have helped to more than double children’s cancer survival in the UK since the 1970s and, today, around 8 in 10 will survive for at least 10 years. However, there’s still much further to go.
The Royal Hospital for Children & Young People in Edinburgh is one of the many centres across the UK taking part in groundbreaking clinical trials coordinated by Cancer Research UK’s Children’s Cancer trials team. These trials make innovative new treatments available.
Professor Katrin Ottersbach at the University of Edinburgh is investigating how infant leukaemia starts and progresses. She wants to understand how blood cancer in babies differs from blood cancer in adults.
Her team are studying how the unique properties of foetal blood cells contribute to blood cancer development in babies. She hopes this work will lead to the discovery of new targets for treatments for this type of cancer.
Photo: Professor Katrin Ottersbach
Photo Credit: Cancer Research UK
Cancer Research UK spokeswoman for Scotland, Lisa Adams, said: “Cancer is different in children and young people from the types of cancer that affect this age group to the long-term effects of treatment, such as hearing loss and infertility. It needs different and dedicated research which campaigns like Give Up Clothes for Good help to fund.
“Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, we are beating cancer. Step by step, day by day. More than 9 in 10 children and young people with cancer who receive cancer drugs on the NHS receive a drug linked to Cancer Research UK’s work. And our scientists are unlocking discoveries about these cancers and translating them into new and less toxic ways to treat them.
“But, despite huge progress, too many young lives are still lost to this devastating disease. By donating any quality clothes or goods to their local TK Maxx store, people across Scotland can help ensure more young people can live longer, better lives free from the fear of cancer.”
TK Maxx is the biggest corporate supporter of Cancer Research UK’s research into children’s and young people’s cancers.
Since 2004, the retailer’s customers and associates have raised over £45 million to help improve survival and reduce long-term side effects.
This includes supporting the Cancer Research UK Children’s Brain Tumour Centre of Excellence for the last six years, which brings together expert researchers from across the globe to accelerate the development of better treatments for children with brain tumours.
Give Up Clothes for Good is the UK’s longest running clothes collection.
People can also show their support by wearing a gold ribbon badge – the awareness symbol of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month – available from Cancer Research UK shops during September.
Find out more or donate online at www.cruk.org/childrenandyoungpeople.
Headline photo: The gold ribbon badge is available from Cancer Research UK shops
Photo Credit: Cancer Research UK