Birmingham urged to Give Up Clothes for Good to support children and young people with cancer

They are being urged to donate any pre-loved quality fashion and homeware to TK Maxx’s Give Up Clothes for Good campaign, in support of Cancer Research UK for Children & Young People.

Donations will help support the UK’s only Children’s Cancer Trials Team based in Birmingham.

Every year, around 1900 children are diagnosed with the disease in the UK,* but research is making more precious moments possible for more youngsters and their families.

Cancer Research UK’s scientific breakthroughs have helped to more than double children’s cancer survival in the UK since the 1970s and, today, around 8 in 10 will survive for at least 10 years.** However, there’s still much further to go.

Birmingham is home to Cancer Research UK’s Children’s Cancer Trials Team - the only one of its kind in the UK. The team puts the city at the forefront of children’s cancer research and coordinates groundbreaking clinical trials in many centres across the UK including Birmingham Children's Hospital. These trials make innovative new treatments available to children with cancer, giving them the chance to benefit from the latest discoveries.

One of the trials is finding out what the best possible treatment options are for children and young adults with a type of brain tumour called ependymoma, while another is working to improve chemotherapy options for children with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML).

Cancer Research UK spokesperson for the West Midlands, Paula Young, said: “Cancer is different in children and young people, from the types of cancer that affect this age group to the long-term effects of treatment, such as hearing loss and infertility. So, it needs different and dedicated research which campaigns like Give Up Clothes for Good help to fund.

“Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, we are beating cancer. Step by step, day by day. More than 9 in 10 children and young people with cancer who receive cancer drugs on the NHS receive a drug linked to Cancer Research UK’s work. And our scientists are unlocking discoveries about these cancers and translating them into new and less toxic ways to treat them.

“But, despite huge progress, too many young lives are still lost to this devastating disease. By donating any quality clothes or goods to their local TK Maxx store, people can help ensure more young people in the region - and across the UK – can live longer, better lives free from the fear of cancer.”

TK Maxx is the biggest corporate supporter of Cancer Research UK’s research into children’s and young people’s cancers.

Since 2004, the retailer’s customers and associates have raised over £45 million to help improve survival and reduce long-term side effects.

This includes supporting the Cancer Research UK Children’s Brain Tumour Centre of Excellence for the last six years, which brings together expert researchers from across the globe to accelerate the development of better treatments for children with brain tumours.

Give Up Clothes for Good is the UK’s longest running clothes collection. The public can donate at any TK Maxx store all year round – including including shops in Birmingham, Walsall, Dudley, Cannock, Castle Vale, Solihull, Tamworth and Sutton Coldfield.

People can also show their support by wearing a gold ribbon badge – the awareness symbol of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month – available from Cancer Research UK shops during September.

Find out more or donate online at cruk.org/childrenandyoungpeople