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Home > In your region > North region > Latest news >Publication Date: 06 May 2009
The grandparents of a toddler battling leukaemia have helped to kick off CLIC Sargent's Kick for Children with Cancer, a UK-wide fundraising event to help families affected by childhood cancer.
A young boy called Sam, from Billingham, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia last year and is undergoing his second bout of intensive treatment.
His parents Rachael and Brian, have benefited greatly from the services offered by CLIC Sargent, and were delighted to hear that their local club Hartlepool United has chosen to back the new Kick for Children with Cancer campaign.
Rachael’s parents Margaret and Kevin, also from Billingham, went along to Hartlepool’s match against Scunthorpe United on Monday 13th April where the players donned special CLIC Sargent T-shirts during their warm-up.
Rachael said: “It’s nice to have a local team supporting the children and trying to raise awareness of the cause.
“Sam is quite well at the moment, but I think your perspective of ‘well’ changes during the stage of treatment he is on at the time.
“He had one intensive treatment period in the run-up to Christmas and he just started his second treatment in March. It basically means he’s getting a different course of drugs, but it’s all done on an outpatient basis.”
Rachael and Brian, first came across CLIC Sargent when their son was admitted hospital.
“They basically said sign on the line and we’ll give you £200,” said Rachael. “They understand how expensive it is to travel up and down to Newcastle and to park the car at the hospital."
“They also offered us a lot of help in making sure we applied for all of the benefits we were entitled to, which eased the pressure of me not being able to go back to work.”
Since then, the Iddon family have grown close to their CLIC Sargent social worker Jan McBride and have even enjoyed a holiday in a caravan at Filey funded by the charity.
“Jan always seems to ring me at the right time,” said Rachael. “Talking to her means I can really vent my emotions."
“They even offered us the chance to have a little holiday at their caravan in Filey. The nice thing about it is not only is it free, but it’s nearby. We can’t usually travel very far in case we need to go back to the clinic.”
Kick for Children with Cancer encourages schools and football clubs to hold fun sponsored soccer-based activities to help raise money for the cause. Hartlepool United’s community sports foundation manager Keith Nobbs said: “Hartlepool United are delighted to be supporting Kick for Children with Cancer this year and are happy to show support by getting our players to wear Kick for Children with Cancer T-shirts whilst warming up for the game."
“We are urging local schools and youth groups to sign up for the event to support this worthwhile cause.”
For more information and to register online, please visit the Kick for Children with Cancer website.
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