The Tower of Refuge will be turning blue tonight (Friday, September 14) in support of Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis awareness month. The Manx Electricity Authority is also pleased to assist in raising awareness of this rare illness and will be switching on it’s multi coloured decorative lighting at the Power Station for one week.
The Department of Infrastructure was contacted by Tracey Jones, whose 18-month-old grandson, Rayner Ashton, is currently being treated for the rare illness. Mrs Jones asked if the Tower of Refuge could be tuned blue on Friday, September 14, to coincide with the famous CN Tower in Toronto, which is also turning blue today.
Minister for Infrastructure David Cretney MHK said: ‘It can be a heartbreaking illness, which mostly affects young children and we were only too pleased to assist with Mrs Jones’s request. The Tower will be blue for a week and hopefully it will generate interest and discussion about LCH, as it will during October when we turn the Tower pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.’
The Langerhans cells are a type of white blood cells which in their healthy state fight infections. In a patient suffering from Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis, these cells are produced excessively. They spread to different locations of the body such as the spleen, bone marrow, skin and lymph nodes through the blood stream.
After reaching an area, these cells damage the local tissues and form lesions all over the body. The cause of the disease is not known yet.
Mrs Jones, who lives in Douglas, said: ‘Turning the tower blue to help raise awareness of LCH will mean so much to our family. It has been difficult to find information about Rayner's condition, and raising awareness of LCH and other Histio conditions will help others to find the information they need and help in the search for a cure.’
Further information about LCH can be available the following websites:
www.hrtrust.org
www.histio.org
www.macmillan.org.uk
