The bravery of children with cancer in the Isle of Man is to be recognised with a special award, as new figures released by Cancer Research UK Kids & Teens today (Thursday) offer increased hope of survival.
According to the charity, the rate of children dying from cancer in the North West has fallen by 25 per cent since the early 2000s*.
Thanks to more research and better treatments, the latest figures show that death rates for under 15s in the North West have decreased from around 28 deaths per million children a decade ago to around 21 deaths per million children today*.
The news comes as Cancer Research UK Kids & Teens launches its annual Star Awards, in partnership with TK Maxx, across the Isle of Man and the North West.
The awards, which celebrate the courage of children affected by cancer, are backed by a host of famous faces including Strictly Star and Olympic long jumper and medallist Greg Rutherford, professional dancers Karen and Kevin Clifton and children’s television star Mister Maker.
Around 175 children are diagnosed with cancer each year in the North West region**.
Relatives and friends of young cancer patients and survivors who deserve special recognition are being urged to nominate them for the accolade in the run up to Christmas at cruk.org/kidsandteens.
Unlike many other children’s awards, there is no judging panel because Cancer Research UK Kids & Teens and TK Maxx believe that each and every child who faces cancer is extra special.
Recipients get a unique trophy, a ?50 TK Maxx gift card and a certificate signed by celebrities.
While the figures released today underline the progress being made in the fight against children’s cancers, around 25 children still die from cancer every year in the North West***.
That’s why Cancer Research UK Kids & Teens is raising vital funds to accelerate research into new, better and kinder treatments for children, teens and young adults with cancer.
The charity supports the work of researchers who are working hard to understand the causes of children’s cancer and the faulty genes that drive it.
Its Children’s Cancer Trials Team co-ordinates groundbreaking cancer trials for children and young people in specialist treatment centres across the UK. These trials make pioneering new therapies available to children with cancer and are helping more survive.
Alison Barbuti, Cancer Research UK Kids & Teens spokesperson for the Isle of Man and the North West, said: “It is a privilege to be able to recognise the courage of children with cancer with a Star Award and we would like to encourage anyone who knows an inspirational youngster to nominate them now.
“Although we’re losing fewer young lives to cancer, a lot more needs to be done to find new and better treatments.
“And as more children survive cancer, it’s especially important that we concentrate on improving their quality of life after treatment. Many children who survive cancer will live with long-term side effects from their treatment which may have an impact on them as adults. So it’s vital that we find treatments that are not only better at treating the cancer but also have fewer side effects.
“Cancer Research UK’s investment in clinical trials for children with cancer has been a major factor in developing today’s treatments and it’s pivotal to ongoing research that will offer new hope to children with cancer and their families”.
TK Maxx’s support of Cancer Research UK’s Kids & Teens Star Awards is part of a wider partnership with the charity, which has raised around ?27.1 million since 2004, through stock and cash donations.
Around ?23 million of this has specifically supported research into children’s cancers, making the retailer the biggest corporate funder of research into childhood cancers in the UK.
Jo Murphy, Assistant Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility for TK Maxx, said: “The Cancer Research UK Kids & Teens Star Awards are a fantastic way of acknowledging the bravery and determination of children who have faced a cancer diagnosis.
“TK Maxx is very proud to be supporting the awards and helping to raise vital awareness and funds for research. Thousands more people are alive today thanks to the charity’s work into children’s cancers.”
Olympic athlete, Greg Rutherford said: “Every child that has to face cancer is a star in their own right. It is such an honour to support the Cancer Research UK Kids & Teens Star Awards and to hero these amazing children that have gone through so much, at such a young age.”
Karen and Kevin Clifton, Professional dancers, said: “The incredible fighting spirit that young people show when diagnosed with cancer is so humbling. We are both so proud to support the Cancer Research UK Kids & Teens Star Awards once again as we want to help recognise the true bravery of each and every Star.”
Phil Gallagher, from Mister Maker, said: “Cancer Research UK Kids & Teens have recognised the courage of so many young people facing cancer and I’m honoured to be supporting them once again this year. Facing a cancer diagnosis at any age is tough but the resilience and bravery of these children is truly remarkable.”
Cancer Research UK’s Kids & Teens Star Awards are open to all under-18s who have cancer or who have been treated for the disease in the last five years.
To nominate a child for an award, donate or fundraise in support of Cancer Research UK Kids & Teens, visit cruk.org/kidsandteens.
*Based on the cancer mortality rates for all cancers (ICD10 C00-C97 excl, C44) for children (aged 0-14) since the early 2000s (from 28 deaths per million children between 2001-2003 to 21 deaths per million children between 2012-2014).
** Figures provided for cancer cases are the annual average from 2012-2014.
*** Based on the number of deaths from cancer between 2012-2014.
Photo - Dancers Karen (pictured) and Kevin Clifton are supporting the Cancer Research UK Kids & Teens Star Awards, in partnership with TK Maxx. The Awards are open to all under-18s who have cancer or who have been treated for the disease in the last five years.
