South West families of children and young people diagnosed with cancer are being encouraged to nominate them for a special award to recognise their courage at cruk.org/starawards. The Cancer Research UK for Children & Young People Star Awards, in partnership with TK Maxx, are open to all under-18s who have been diagnosed with cancer in the last five years.

Celebrities champion the courage of SW children with cancer

AN AWARD scheme recognising the courage of children and young people diagnosed with cancer is being launched today in the South West.

Around 120 children are diagnosed with cancer in the South West every year.

Nominations for the Cancer Research UK for Children & Young People Star Awards, in partnership with TK Maxx, are now open and families across the South West are being called on to nominate young cancer patients and survivors in the run up to Christmas.

The Star Awards are open to under-18s who have been diagnosed with and treated for cancer in the last five years.

There is no judging panel, because Cancer Research UK for Children & Young People believes every child diagnosed with cancer deserves special recognition.

Everyone nominated receives a trophy, £50 TK Maxx gift card, t-shirt and a certificate signed by a host of famous faces, including Nanny McPhee star Dame Emma Thompson, celebrity chef Jean-Christophe Novelli, TV personalities Dr Ranj and Joe Tasker, TikTok stars Flossie Clegg, Lewys Ball and Olivia Neill, as well as children’s TV favourite Mister Maker.

Cancer in children and young people is different to cancer in adults, from the types of cancer, to the impact of treatment. That’s why Cancer Research UK for Children & Young People is supporting dedicated research to help ensure more youngsters survive cancer with a good quality of life.

Through the Star Awards the charity hopes to raise awareness of some of the challenges faced by young people with cancer, which its scientists are working to tackle.

The Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Bristol is one of the many centres across the UK taking part in ground-breaking clinical trials coordinated by Cancer Research UK’s Children's Cancer Trials Team. These trials make innovative new treatments available to children with cancer in Bristol and across the south west.

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.

Also another trial is working to improve chemotherapy options for children with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). One of the team’s aim is to find a safe dose of a new drug which will be tested in combination with chemotherapy that’s already being given as treatment. The trial, called MyeChild01, will compare a number of treatment plans to find out which works best at improving survival for patients.

Alison Birkett, Cancer Research UK spokesperson for the South West,said: “A cancer diagnosis is heart-breaking at any age, but it can be particularly difficult for a child or young person and their families - especially when many may experience serious long-term side effects from their treatment.

“Our Star Awards shine an important light on these inspirational individuals, so we’re urging people to get nominating now so we can celebrate their incredible courage.”

The Star Awards are run in partnership with TK Maxx, the biggest corporate supporter of Cancer Research UK’s work into children’s and young people’s cancers. Since 2004, the retailer has raised more than £40m for vital research to help improve survival and reduce the long-term side effects of treatments.

To nominate a star visit cruk.org/starawards.