TRUSTEES ARE WALKING OVER CANCER THIS CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

Thursday 5 September 2019: For immediate release

TRUSTEES ARE WALKING OVER CANCER THIS CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

Neuroblastoma UK’s Chair of Trustees, Tony Heddon (from Four Marks, Hampshire) and the Charity’s Secretary, Shirley Clark (from Kew, London) are taking part in the Thames Bridges Trek on Saturday 7th September to raise vital funds for neuroblastoma research. Shirley, along with Tony and his family, are walking in memory of Shirley’s daughter Joanna, who sadly passed away in 1995, aged 8, after being diagnosed with neuroblastoma.

Shirley, Tony and his family (wife Karen, 57 and daughters Emily, 25 and Sophie, 18) will join 2,000 walkers to trek 25km over 16 Thames Bridges. They’ll be “#GoingGold for Joanna” as they trek over the 16 bridges, includes the Golden Jubilee Bridge, to celebrate Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

Shirley previously took part in the Thames Bridge Trek in 2016, for the 21st anniversary of Joanna’s death, raising over £2,000. Shirley will also be running in the Kew Gardens 10k as part of Richmond Runfest on Saturday 14 September. This will be Shirley’s first 10k in 37 years!

Shirley, aged 62, who joined the Board of Trustees at Neuroblastoma UK in 2006 says, “September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and it's also the month we lost Joanna, so what better incentive to take on this challenge in her memory.

“As a Trustee of Neuroblastoma UK, I was heartened that this year - due to the generosity of our supporters - we were able to allocate £1.177million into research projects looking for new and more effective treatments for this aggressive childhood cancer. For the next biennial grant round our aim is to double that amount. Only by funding leading research will progress be made in combating this disease and give hope to the families of children with neuroblastoma.”

To support Shirley, Tony and the team, please visit their fundraising page: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/forjj

ENDS

Photographs and further interviews available on request.

NOTES TO EDITORS

Event details:

• https://www.thamespathchallenge.com/thames-bridges-trek
• Start location / time: Bishops Park, Fulham, South West London. The team will start their trek at 11.10am
• Finish location / time: Southwark Park, East-Central London. The team hope to finish in around four hours (at approximately 3/330pm)

About neuroblastoma:

• On average, every week in the UK, two families are told that their child has neuroblastoma, a rare and life-threatening cancer.
• Neuroblastoma is a cancer of the nerve cells. It usually affects children under the age of five, and can occur before a child is born.
• It is the most common solid tumour in childhood after brain tumours.

About Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

• During Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in September, Neuroblastoma UK will be encouraging people to join them in #GoingGold by wearing a Gold Ribbon, an awareness symbol to show support for children with cancer and their families.
• To find out how to support Neuroblastoma UK this September, visit www.neuroblastoma.org.uk/childhood-cancer-awareness-month

About Neuroblastoma UK:

• Neuroblastoma UK is a national charity dedicated to finding a cure for neuroblastoma, a rare childhood cancer. We do this by funding leading research projects to deliver new, effective and kinder treatments for children with neuroblastoma.
• We rely entirely on voluntary donations and receive no government funding.
• Neuroblastoma UK is supporting nine new research studies this year, with a total funding of £1.177 million.
• Every two years, we run a research competition to ensure that public donations fund the best neuroblastoma research which have potential value to neuroblastoma patients. By funding leading research projects, Neuroblastoma UK can help scientists to deliver new, effective and kinder treatments for children with neuroblastoma.
• As part of our commitment to drive forward research into this terrible disease, we want to double our annual income over the next two years.
• Registered charity number 326385
• To find out more, visit www.neuroblastoma.org.uk