The London Marathon serves as a significant fundraising event for numerous charities every year. As numerous participants gear up for this year’s race, Children With Cancer UK is seizing the opportunity to spotlight the long-term support needs of the children and their families they assist.
Thousands of participants will fill the streets of London for the marathon this weekend, collectively raising millions for numerous charitable causes. For many charities, this event is crucial for their annual fundraising efforts. It presents an opportunity to share their mission with a large audience, attract supporters, and raise funds necessary for research, support services, and direct aid for those in need.
The marathon also showcases the compassionate side of London, a sprawling city filled with support and encouragement for the runners. Police officers, volunteers, organizers, and bystanders cheer on the runners, making the city feel at its best.
The spectators are as diverse as a cab driver who refused to take a fare from a runner, donating it to charity instead, to families with homemade signs and children’s TV presenter and actress Evie Pickerill. Known for her work on CBeebies, Pickerill is a recognizable face to many young families across the UK. Besides her television work, she hosts a podcast and serves as an ambassador for Children With Cancer.
Pickerill’s ambassadorship stems from her firsthand experiences with the children being treated for cancer, and the struggles their families endure. Every day in the UK, 10 children are diagnosed with cancer, with two not surviving. The eight survivors often face long-term effects such as cognitive impairments, fertility issues, and growth problems due to the intense treatments they have undergone.
Survival rates have improved in recent decades thanks to research and improved treatments, but more work needs to be done. Cancer isn’t just a disease of the elderly, it also affects our youngest. Only about 2% of cancer research funding goes toward childhood cancers, despite the long-term physical and emotional consequences survivors face.
There are various other challenges too, such as disruptions to education and friendships due to extended periods out of school. There’s also the phenomenon of ‘forgotten sibling syndrome,’ where healthy siblings feel overlooked as all attention is focused on the ill child.
Children With Cancer UK helps alleviate some of these issues. The charity allocates 75% of its funding for research and support services, while the remaining 25% goes towards welfare support for the children and their families. This includes travel grants for hospital visits, lodging near treatment centers, days out, and respite breaks. Among the charity’s latest initiatives is a collection of free-of-charge holiday cottages in North Yorkshire for families impacted by childhood cancer.
The London Marathon is one of the most significant fundraising and awareness opportunities for Children with Cancer UK. One in every 40 runners will be part of their team, wearing bright orange t-shirts. Participants include Evie Pickerill, who despite her initial naive approach to the training needed for the marathon, remains committed to the cause. She hopes to increase awareness and funding for childhood cancer, bringing it to the forefront of millions of people’s minds.
