Children's Cancer and Leukaemia Group (CCLG)

Research into children's cancer saves lives. Support vital childhood cancer research this Christmas by purchasing a CCLG Christmas pin badge. Our Christmas badge boxes may have sold out, but we still have limited stock of our new adorable snowman and reindeer badges ☃️🦌 Get yours before they're gone at https://bit.ly/3FfpmVF Hannah | Vicki | Ashley | Samuel | Georgina | Claire | Naomi | Amy | Phil | Tina | Ellie | Sharon | Juliet | Jeanette #CCLG #Christmas #ChildhoodCancer #ChildhoodCancerResearch

We want to say a huge thank you to Mini Athletics HQ! From the amazing children and parents to the incredible coaches at their sports classes across the country, they’ve raised over £20,000 to support vital childhood cancer research and provide help for affected families. Coaches from over 30 franchises held special classes for their mini athletes during their annual Charity Week, with this year’s theme focused on ‘emergency services.’ Dressed as paramedics, police officers, and firefighters, the children took part in fun, imaginative activities, all while raising funds for and awareness of CCLG’s work. Ben Russell, Head Coach and Owner at Mini Athletics’ North Birmingham franchise, said: "We're really proud that the children and parents have all gone away and took it so seriously. And I think that's because we're raising money for such an important charity, which supports parents in the way it does, which is incredible." You can read more about Mini Athletics' Charity Week and incredible fundraising at https://bit.ly/40SJJTs Hannah | Vicki | Ashley | Samuel | Georgina | Claire | Naomi | Amy | Phil | Tina | Ellie | Sharon | Juliet | Jeanette #CCLG #ChildhoodCancer #ChildhoodCancerResearch

Kelly Scott was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma when she was a teenager in 2001. Now working for Teenage Cancer Trust, in Contact magazine, she explains how this affected her relationships with her peers and how some simple acts of kindness helped support her 💓 You can read Kelly's full article at https://bit.ly/3YPq7gq This #WorldKindnessDay, share below one small act of kindness you'll do this week or a moment when kindness made a real difference for you 👇 #CCLG #ChildhoodCancer #ChildhoodCancerSupport

Last month’s CCLG Research Discovery Day, hosted in collaboration with Candlelighters Trust, opened with a moving speech from bereaved parent Scott Crowther 💛 Scott shared why he fights for more and better research in memory of his youngest son, Ben, who died in June 2019, just a year after being diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma. Determined to make a difference, Scott and his wife, Sarah, set up Pass the Smile for Ben to raise funds for rhabdomyosarcoma research. Their fundraising has now supported six research projects through CCLG, and Scott is also a dedicated advocate for childhood cancer research. Watch his full talk now at https://bit.ly/48MAgPv #CCLG #ChildhoodCancer #ChildhoodCancerResearch #ResearchDiscoveryDay

Meet Caroline Cleaver, a proton beam liaison nurse and CCLG member at Manchester Children's Hospital. She offers valuable advice to patients and their families on the importance of open communication during treatment. This advice was shaped by her own experience when her twin sister was diagnosed with leukaemia at just 19, which inspired Caroline’s career in children’s cancer nursing. In Contact magazine, Caroline shared: "Be open and honest with us and talk to us whenever you need to. Even if you think the question is small or silly, we're here to support you through a difficult journey. Just remember to keep talking; we always have time to listen. Take one step at a time because each day is a new day. There are so many people who care and will be there to support you every step of your journey." You can read the full article at https://bit.ly/3zUI98C #CCLG #ContactMagazine #ChildhoodCancer

This Christmas, help save young lives by supporting vital childhood cancer research! Could you have a CCLG Christmas pin badge box in your workplace, local shop, café, or school? Order your free box of badges—including our brand-new snowman and reindeer designs—to sell throughout November and December ⛄🦌 Order at https://bit.ly/470Ubsx #Christmas #CCLG #ChildhoodCancer #ChildhoodCancerResearch

Following a childhood cancer diagnosis, parents may find relationships with those around them change, while they may also develop several new relationships during their child’s treatment 💛 In the latest issue of Contact magazine, Dr Amandeep Samrai, Consultant Clinical Psychologist in Paediatric Oncology at Nottingham Children’s Hospital, talks about how relationships can support and challenge families during childhood cancer treatment. You can read the full article at https://bit.ly/4eYgpiY #CCLG #ContactMagazine #ChildhoodCancer #PaediatricOncology

It's great to hear the Government commit to a National Cancer Plan. Many of us have been calling for this for a long time, individually and collectively through the #OneCancerVoice coalition. But what needs to happen for children and young people's cancer?... With Young Lives vs Cancer, Children's Cancer and Leukaemia Group (CCLG) has set out what should be in a children & young people (CYP) specific cancer plan. We'll continue pushing for a specific plan. But in the meantime, an overall cancer plan needs to include children and young people in a meaningful way. The proposed content of the CYP specific cancer plan still applies and should be reflected in the national cancer plan, in specific content for CYP. In previous plans we've been a few bullet points at most, which doesn't capture or reflect the different needs of this group. Children and young people's cancer is different. Policies, pathways, targets, plans, good intentions and everything else designed based on adult cancer almost universally DO NOT APPLY for CYP cancer. It's different, and it needs a different approach. We're a small part of cancer - around 1% of all cases. But through a children and young people's health lens, things look different. Cancer is the biggest disease killer of CYP, and by age 20 cumulative age incidence is 1 in 320 - it is not rare. Children and young people's cancer needs to be included in a meaningful way in any future cancer plan.

Did you know that cells normally need at least five broken genes to form cancer cells? 🧬 Our bodies constantly look for errors and fight hard to keep our cells working properly. An error in just one gene can cause problems - like in malignant rhabdoid tumour, a rare childhood tumour. Professor Maureen O'Sullivan is working on this aggressive cancer, which affects young children, to find out what the gene does and how and why cancer is caused. Find out more in our #ResearchRoundup blog at https://bit.ly/3IMcics

Lexi Mae was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) in May 2022 at just two years old. To help raise vital awareness of the signs and symptoms of leukaemia in children, her mother, Demi, shares her story. "I took Lexi to the GP, thinking she just had a cold or flu-like symptoms, only to find out she actually had tonsillitis. After Lexi completed the course of medication, she seemed to feel better overall, but a viral rash still covered her arms, legs and face. "Two weeks later, Lexi still wasn't herself. Her temperature had spiked to 40.4°C, and she had been sick. I called 111, and due to Lexi's age, they sent an ambulance for us. The paramedics checked Lexi, and since her temperature had decreased significantly, they put the fever and sickness down to having a viral infection. "A few weeks passed, and while the rash was barely noticeable, I noticed bruises on Lexi's legs, back and hand. As the days went by, more bruises began to appear, so I decided to take Lexi back to the GP. "The doctor examined Lexi and said the bruises looked normal and there was nothing to worry about. "The day after we visited the doctor, my actual GP called and asked if I could bring Lexi in so she could check on her and ensure the antibiotics had worked. The doctor examined her and took her temperature, which was still high. She could see that Lexi wasn't feeling well, especially since the rash was still there. "She told me not to panic and suggested that it could potentially be meningitis. They rushed us to the Royal Surrey under blue lights, where a paediatrician saw us. I shared the entire story —about the tonsillitis, the antibiotics, the bruises, and everything else. They ran some blood tests, and around 3:00 am, my life was turned upside down. Hearing the words, "I'm really sorry, but Lexi has leukaemia. It's a type of blood cancer". "Lexi’s now in remission! She rang the bell and completed her treatment on July 27, 2024." You can read Lexi's full story and find out more about leukaemia at https://bit.ly/3NJBUrt #CCLG #ChildhoodCancer #ChildhoodCancerAwareness