3:50pm Wednesday 5th November 2008
By Gazette Reporter
The courage of children in Wiltshire who have encountered cancer is to be recognised with a unique award, backed by celebrities including Doctor Who star David Tennant and the new Formula 1 world champion, Lewis Hamilton.
Cancer Research UK today launches its annual Little Star Awards in partnership with TK Maxx.
And relatives and friends of young cancer patients or survivors from across the region are being urged to nominate them now for special recognition in the run up to Christmas.
Unlike other children’s awards, there is no judging panel because Cancer Research UK and TK Maxx believe each and every child who confronts cancer is extra special.
Cancer Research UK is the UK’s largest single funder of research into children’s cancers. With a spend of nearly £9 million last year, this investment has helped bring about huge advances in treatments Seven out of ten youngsters with cancer are now successfully treated in the UK, compared with less than three out of ten in the 1960s.
That progress, coupled with determination to improve survival rates still further, inspired TK Maxx to get together with Cancer Research UK to create the ‘Together for Kids’ fund, to help beat childhood cancers. The company has already raised a staggering £3 million for the fund this year.
Each recipient will receive a £100 TK Maxx voucher, a chrome trophy and a certificate signed by a host of stars from the worlds of TV, music and sport.
Helen Johnstone, from Cancer Research UK, said: “The Little Star Awards – now in their sixth year - allow us to recognise the unique challenges faced by youngsters diagnosed with cancer and salute their courage.
“We are delighted that recipients will this year have £100 to spend on toys, books or fashion as part of TK Maxx’s wider commitment to supporting children with cancer.”
Jo Murphy, TK Maxx’s Head of Corporate Social Responsibility, said: “The Little Star Awards are a fantastic way of recognising the courage of children who face a diagnosis of cancer and the support they receive from families and friends. We’ve supported Cancer Research UK since 2004 and are very pleased to be involved with the Little Star Awards this year.”
Cancer is the most common cause of death from illness in children aged between one and 14. Each year, about 1,400 children in the UK are diagnosed with the disease - that is one in every 500. Other celebrities supporting Cancer Research UK’s Little Star Awards include Formula 1 ace Lewis Hamilton, Arsenal FC stars Cesc Fabregas and Gael Clichy, Britain’s Got Talent winner George Sampson and children’s TV presenter Zoe Salmon.
To nominate a Little Star email littlestar@cancer.org.uk or click on the link on the right.
The awards are open to all under 17s who have cancer or have been treated for the disease in the last five years.
Ends Notes to Editors: Due to limited availability, TK Maxx vouchers will only be issued in respect of the first 200 Little Star nominations received by Cancer Research UK.
About TK Maxx · TK Maxx is a designer brands-for-less retailer implementing a unique ‘off-price’ concept which originated in the US. It sells designer and high street brands of womenswear, menswear, homeware, gifts and accessories at up to 60% less than the recommended retail price (RRP.) · TK Maxx launched in the UK in 1994 and now has over 200 stores nationwide.
· Opportunistic buying and a no frills operation means TK Maxx can pass huge savings onto the customer. A typical store has over 50,000 items in stock and receives 10,000 new pieces, styles and colours a week, which means stock is consistently fresh.
· For more information see www.tkmaxx.com · TK Maxx is part of TJX Europe, the European subsidiary of the US group TJX Companies Inc TK Maxx is selling Christmas cards and bags in store from November with all proceeds going to the Together For Kids Fund.
About childhood cancers and Cancer Research UK: Every year in the UK around 1,400 new cases of childhood cancer are diagnosed. Today, 75 per cent of children survive for at least five years after diagnosis of cancer, compared with less than 30 per cent in the 1960s. But there is still much to do to improve outcomes for the other 25 per cent of children and to reduce the side effects of treatments for all children.
The Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group (CCLG) coordinate the care of virtually all children with cancer in the UK. Cancer Research UK is the major supporter of this group and funds the UK clinical trials work of the CCLG via its coordinating centre in Leicester and 21 paediatric centres throughout the British Isles. The CCLG is currently coordinating more than 30 national and international trials.
The CCLG is one of the world’s leading childhood cancer clinical trial groups. Over the past five years, there has been significant progress and success in the CCLG’s clinical trials, resulting in improvements in survival.
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