Six-year-old Kyna Bedi from Greater London Six-year-old Kyna Bedi, from Greater London, who missed out on Christmas previously because of her cancer treatment, is surprised by an off-duty summer visit from Santa at the Cancer Research UK Kids & Teens Star Awards party in London , supported by TK Maxx. The awards celebrate the courage of all children and young people in the UK who have been diagnosed with cancer. Kyna was diagnosed with neuroblastoma – a rare cancer that starts in nerve tissue - in August 2013 when she was just five months old. Doctors found a tumour in the back of her chest, when her parents took her to the doctors after she had flu. Although the tumour had been caught early, it was large and starting to spread to her spine and Kyna was started on chemotherapy straight away. She then had surgery followed by further chemotherapy which ran up to 21 December, leaving the family in isolation for Christmas. Long term side effects of the treatment have affected the nerves in Kyna’s eye causing Horner’s Syndrome, where one eye appears smaller than the other. Picture date: 9 July 2019. For more information and to nominate a star, visit cruk.org/kidsandteens For more information please contact Amy Shacklady Direct dial | 0203 469 6579 Press office | 020 3469 8315 Out of hours | 07050 264 059
On Tuesday 9 July, six-year-old Kyna Bedi, nine-year-old Ollie Elvin and three-year-old Connor Grant met Santa at a magical festive party in summer, having missed out on celebrating in the past as they were having treatment for cancer.
Ollie, Kyna, Connor and 18 other children and young people who have been affected by cancer were invited to the Cancer Research UK Kids & Teens Star Awards party, supported by TK Maxx, for a day of festive fun at Santa’s summer home in Skinner’s Hall, London, to celebrate their courage.
At the party, the children were surprised by a rare meeting with the man himself in his summer uniform of flip flops, Hawaiian shirt and sunglasses, as he delivered early presents in the July sunshine.
Ollie was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, a type of blood cancer, in May last year. He went from being a sporty and energetic child, signing up to triathlons, to not being able to walk. Months of hospital visits and chemotherapy treatment followed, and Ollie was admitted to hospital in December last year as his body struggled to deal with a virus because of his treatment. He missed out on the exciting festive build up and although thankfully he was home days before Christmas, he was too unwell to enjoy the day fully.
Ollie’s mum, Emma, said: “Christmas last year was horrible – we were so worried and it was far from what we expected with our little boy so unwell, so it’s brilliant that he’s been able to meet Santa today and have fun. Ollie’s amazing attitude and resilience throughout has astounded us. He’s gradually built his strength up and not let his cancer diagnosis stop him doing the things he loves like football. Ollie is still in maintenance treatment but we hope next Christmas will be much more exciting for him! We’re so proud of him.”
Kyna was diagnosed with neuroblastoma – a rare cancer that starts in nerve tissue – in August 2013 when she was just five months old. Doctors found a tumour in the back of her chest, when her parents took her to the doctors after she had flu. Although the tumour had been caught early, it was large and starting to spread to her spine and Kyna was started on chemotherapy straight away. She then had surgery followed by further chemotherapy which ran up to 21 December, leaving the family in isolation for Christmas. Long term side effects of the treatment have affected the nerves in Kyna’s eye causing Horner’s Syndrome, where one eye appears smaller than the other.
Kyna’s mum, Samneet, said: “Kyna was so young when she was diagnosed. It was extremely tough on the entire family and we were so upset that her very first Christmas was put on hold. It’s been so wonderful that she’s been able to get that time back today at the party. Kyna is doing brilliantly now and we couldn’t be prouder of her. We have come out of the experience stronger than we could have imagined.”
Connor, aged three, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, a type of blood cancer, just days before his second birthday. His mum, Tracy, first noticed something was wrong when Connor kept getting ear and chest infections that he couldn’t shake off. Bruises soon started to appear on the backs of his legs and he developed a rash, so his family took Connor to hospital. Tests revealed that Connor had cancer. Following an urgent blood transfusion, he started chemotherapy straight away. Connor started maintenance treatment just before Christmas last year and will be on it until 2021. He is doing well and his family couldn’t be prouder.
Connor’s mum, Tracy, said: “Connor was coming up to his second birthday when he was diagnosed. When we found out, it felt like our world had crumbled down – I never in a million years thought it would happen to us. Connor amazes us every day, he has been so brave! This whole experience has brought us closer as a family and we’re looking forward to spending Christmas together this year.”
The Cancer Research UK Kids & Teens Star Awards celebrate the courage of all children and young people in the UK who have been diagnosed with cancer. Every child and young person nominated receives a trophy, a t-shirt, a certificate signed by celebrities and a £50 TK Maxx voucher. TK Maxx’s support of the Cancer Research UK Kids & Teens Star Awards is part of a year-round partnership which includes their clothes collection campaign, Give Up Clothes for Good, which takes place again this September helping to raise vital funds to help beat children’s and young people’s cancers.
The Star Awards are part of Cancer Research UK Kids & Teens, which aims to accelerate research across the UK to find new, better and kinder treatments for children and young people with cancer. Around 4,500 children and young people (aged 0-24) are diagnosed with cancer every year in the UK. More than 8 in 10 children and young people are diagnosed with cancer in the UK now survive their disease for at least five years*, and many survivors have benefited from research funded by Cancer Research UK. However, there is still more to be done to bring forward the day when every child survives cancer, and does so with a good quality of life.
For more information about the Cancer Research UK Kids & Teens Star Awards or to nominate a star, visit www.cruk.org/kidsandteens
References
*Average annual number of cancer cases (all cancers combined plus non-malignant brain, other central nervous system and intracranial tumours: ICD10 C00-C97, D32-D33, D35.2-D35.4, D42-D43 and D44.3-D44.5) diagnosed in children and young people aged 0-24 years in the UK in 2014-16. http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/health-professional/cancer-statistics/childrens-cancers#heading-Zero http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/health-professional/cancer-statistics/teenagers-and-young-adults-cancers#heading-Zero
**National Cancer Intelligence Network. National Registry of Childhood Tumours Progress Report, 2012. 2013. 5-year actuarial survival for children (aged 0-14) in Great Britain diagnosed with cancer (all cancers combined) in 2006-10.
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About Cancer Research UK’s Kids & Teens
- Cancer Research UK is the world’s leading cancer charity dedicated to saving lives through research.
- Around 4,500 children and young people (aged 0-24) are diagnosed with cancer every year in the UK; that’s around 370 cases every month and 86 cases per week.*
- More than 8 in 10 children and young people (aged 0-24) diagnosed with cancer in the UK now survive their disease for at least five years**
- Together with its partners and supporters, Cancer Research UK Kids & Teens’ vision is to find new, better and kinder treatments for children and young people with cancer.
- Cancer Research UK receives no government funding for its life-saving research. Every step it makes towards beating children’s cancers relies on every donation made.
- Money raised through Cancer Research UK Kids & Teens will be ring-fenced to fund research into cancers affecting children and young people (aged 0-24). Donations will be used to fund research to help find new, better and kinder treatments for children and young people with cancer
About TK Maxx
- TK Maxx is Europe’s leading off-price apparel and homeware retailer, selling a huge assortment of big names and designer labels, top brands, up-and-coming labels and one-off gems at up to 60% less than the RRP and at a significant discount to the price in a department store or on the high street, every single day.
- Opportunistic buying, established relationships with vendors and a no frills operation means TK Maxx can pass huge savings onto the customer.
- The average TK Maxx store receives several deliveries per week with each delivery containing thousands of items which means stock is consistently fresh.
- TK Maxx offers a unique treasure hunt shopping experience where customers can experience the thrill of finding an amazing brand or one-off gem every time they shop.
- TK Maxx is committed to being a responsible retailer whether in the community, as an employer, in the supply chain or in the environment.
- As of Jan 2017, TK Maxx has over 503 European stores across the UK, Ireland, Poland, Germany, Austria and the Netherlands.
- TK Maxx is part of TJX Europe which comprises the TK Maxx and Home Sense brands. TJX Europe is part of The TJX Companies, Inc. (NYSE:TJX).
About TK Maxx supporting Cancer Research UK Kids & Teens:
- TK Maxx’s support of the Cancer Research UK Kids & Teens Star Awards is part of a year-round fundraising partnership which includes their clothes collection campaign, Give Up Clothes for Good which takes place again this September
- The clothes are then sold at Cancer Research UK shops to raise funds for Cancer Research UK Kids & Teens
- The Give Up Clothes for Good campaign runs all year round and donation points are available in all TK Maxx stores
- TK Maxx is the biggest corporate supporter of Cancer Research UK’s research into children’s cancers
- Since 2004, TK Maxx have raised £32.5 million for Cancer Research UK’s work into children’s cancers and £4 million for their general cancer research
- TK Maxx and Cancer Research UK Kids & Teens recently won Retail Charity Partnership of the Year at the Retail System Awards 2019. Give Up Clothes For Good was also shortlisted as Best Green Initiative, recognising the positive impact the GUCFG campaign has on the environment.
