Of all the thousands of ways to get outdoors, and the dozens that I’ve already written about here at Kids of the Wild, you will notice that running with kids is not one of them. Not for me anyway!
Apparently you can only hide from a thing for so long… Running has finally caught up with me thanks to Caroline – the one who’s had cancer and probably should be resting more, rather than doing more exercise!
Caroline was recently contacted by her consultant asking if she, and two other children receiving treatment at the RVI hospital, would like to help with the launch of the 2019 North of England Children’s Cancer Research charity run (NECCR).
Childhood Cancer Awareness
Caroline of course jumped at the chance. She’s enthusiastically promoted awareness of childhood cancer since her diagnosis in 2017, doing an assembly at school and a presentation at Brownies and Cubs, both of the latter when she still had no or little hair.
She has allowed samples to be used in two cancer research databases and has raised money for Sarcoma UK, the charity who provide research into all sarcomas, (her particular tumour type is embryonal parameningeal Rhabdomyosarcoma of the head) as well as allowing her story to be used by Children with Cancer UK and featuring in the CLICSargent magazine, talking about her cancer journey with her bear, Otto.
Running for Charity – who’s in?!
One (or one’s daughter) can’t, of course, take part in a charity run launch party without agreeing to take part in the run itself, so I find myself hooked in! Actually I’m really looking forward to it – once again if Caroline’s keen I’ve got to be up for it haven’t I!
Sign up to run for Children’s Cancer Research
If you live in the north-east and would like to take part in the run to raise money for vital children’s cancer research, you can SIGN UP on the NECCR website (click link to left) to run with us on Sunday May 19th 2019 at Newcastle racecourse. There are 3 distances, 1, 3 and 5 miles so adults and children can choose a challenge to suit.
Sponsor Us
If you can’t join in the run personally, we’d love it if you could sponsor us to help raise money for this vital children’s cancer research.
Donations can be made via Caroline’s fundraising page. She and I will do the 3 mile run, Wild Daddy will run the full 5 miles.
Caroline says we’ll run and walk, skip, do cartwheels and other random things if we get tired!! Love my girl.
You can’t have Otto, but the giant bear is available to win on the day in a guess the name competition…
Read on for more info on this incredible world-leading charity right on our doorstep in the north-east.
Launch Party – NECCR 2019 Children’s Cancer Run
Coincidentally, the day of the charity launch was also #WorldCancerDay, February 04th. We were given the morning off school to attend Newcastle’s RVI hospital for the press launch and a party to celebrate NECCR’s 40th anniversary.
We had a lot of fun! The venue was in a room with locked, automatic doors so when we arrived one of the wonderful, friendly NECCR staff knocked and the doors slowly opened for the big reveal: everyone in the room turning to look at us! An amusing Cinderella moment if ever there was one!
There was a press photo shoot and local radio interview (which I haven’t been able to get hold of) and a fascinating talk about the work of the charity over the last 40 years.
An entertainer kept the children amused with a magic show and balloon sculptures and there was a delicious buffet lunch and a goodie bag from one of the run sponsors, Greggs.
Unfortunately, due to a potential tummy bug, none of the children currently on the children’s cancer ward were able to attend, for fear of compromising their immunity whilst on treatment. (More yummies for us! 😉)
Caroline and I were thrilled to be a part of the event, both the launch party for the run and the charity’s monumental 40th anniversary celebrations. It speaks volumes about how far Caroline’s come in her cancer journey.
North of England Children’s Cancer Research Fund
The North of England Children’s Cancer Research Fund was created in 1979 by a small group of parents whose lives had been changed forever by childhood cancer. Some had lost children, others were grateful that theirs had survived.
Since that time the charity has raised over £30 million, providing vital research into children’s cancer, £7 million of this was solely raised by the fun runs.
UK Cancer Statistics
In 2015 360,000 people were diagnosed with cancer in the UK. Around 1,400 of those cases were children.
Government research from 2017 states that more than 8 out of 10 (80%) of all children diagnosed with cancer will live longer than 5 years and most of these will be cured. The report claims this is: –
“Thanks to better research and treatment..Survival has increased greatly over the past 50 years. It is good news that most children who are diagnosed with cancer in this country will be cured…This is an enormous advance on the 1960s, when only about 3 out of every 10 children (30%) with cancer were successfully treated.”
There are many charities researching cancer in the UK but only 3% of all funds raised goes towards children’s cancer.
The pioneering work of the NECCR cannot be underestimated in the fight to understand and eradicate this disease in children as well as to make treatments less invasive and more successful in the meantime.
We’d love you to join us on the day of the run, to take part or cheer from the sideline, or to donate to the fund.
See you at the run!
Reach Out for Support
If your child has been diagnosed with cancer, or anyone you know has been affected and is looking for support, help or information, PLEASE don’t hesitate to reach out and get in touch with me – you can use the contact form on the website or message me via Facebook at Kids of the Wild and I will respond personally.
More Children’s Cancer Charities
For further information on the charities Caroline is involved with click the links below.
North of England Children’s Cancer Research Fund (NECCR)
How wonderful to be such an important part of the event. Sorry to hear about the tummy bug but it was never worth taking chances for the children. Best of all I love Caroline’s encouraging words to you about how you were going to run the race. Did you do some skipping? #CountryKids
It’s a privilege to be involved and it’s really important for Caroline too, which is interesting. The run itself is in May and I suspect there will be lots of skipping. And walking. And definitely a cartwheel or two!!
I’m so not a runner myself but agree it’s for a good cause. Wishing you all success. It’s fantastic that your daughter has already been so helpful in aiding the scientists in their research. #CountryKids
Thanks Helena, I’m no runner either but we’re going for it! I’ll keep you posted as to the outcome. Days of pain I imagine!!
What a wonderful cause to be involved with, good luck with the run too #Countrykids
Thanks Mary, I’m surprisingly looking forward to it!!
Thank you! Need to get in training…
That launch party looks like an amazing event and what an inspiration Caroline is with helping raise awareness of childhood cancer. Well done to you all for signing up for the charity run and wishing you all the best of luck with it x #CountryKids
Thanks Louise, Caroline’s really enjoying getting involved with the charity as well as the research. She’s a mini celeb locally at the mo!
Thanks Louise, I seem to have discovered a load of messages not replied too.