Little Star Awards to recognise child cancer suffers

The bravery of children who have beaten or are fighting cancer, is to be recognised with this year’s launch of an annual award.

Cancer Research UK, are calling for the friends and relatives of young cancer sufferers to nominate them for their Little Star Awards.

Last year, 300 children across the UK received an award and this year, they are running for the eighth time.

The charity is working with retailer TK Maxx, to give out a special trophy, a certificate signed by celebrities including Leona Lewis, Rihanna and The Jonas Brothers, with the first 300 applicants receiving a £50 TK Maxx gift card.

Spokesperson for Cancer Research UK, Martin McGlown said: “The progress we’re seeing in children’s cancer reflects years of research that has led to advances in treatment.  Cancer Research UK has been at the heart of this progress.”

There is an estimated 26,000 childhood cancer survivors in Britain, with the odds of survival having improved slightly for some of them.

Around 40 years ago, less than 40 per cent of children diagnosed with a lymphoma would live for more than five years.

These days, nearly 90 per cent manage to beat the disease.

An 80 per cent of children receiving treatment for leukaemia are now cured compared to less than 10 per cent in the late 1960s.

To nominate a Little Star, visit: www.cancerresearchuk.org/littlestar 

The awards are open to all under 18s who have cancer or have been treated for the disease in the last five years.