A three-year-old boy diagnosed with cancer as the Covid-19 pandemic hit Scotland has been chosen to launch a lifesaving campaign for charity.
Archie Galloway has been undergoing chemotherapy since his family received the devastating news in early March. Now, to mark childhood cancer awareness month this September, he is launching TK Maxx’s Give Up Clothes for Good campaign in support of Cancer Research UK for Children and Young People.
Archie’s family are urging people to donate pre-loved quality clothes, accessories and homeware they no longer need to their nearest TK Maxx store. When sold in Cancer Research UK shops, each bag of donations could raise up to £25 to help fund dedicated research into children’s and young people’s cancers.
Archie’s parents, Andi and Lisa Galloway, of Bathgate, West Lothian, have recorded a video for the campaign where they praise their son for his bravery and talk about the importance of research in helping to save more lives.
Andi, a station commander with the Scottish Fire Service, said: “Archie never fails to amaze us. This year has been the hardest year of our lives. We have down days and moments when we just think, how are we here? But Archie’s incredible bravery and resilience, even during the most difficult times in 2020 has kept us going.
“He knows he has leukaemia and he’s getting medicine to make it better. The doctors have been brilliant. They made it very clear from day one that they’re working towards an achievable goal of curing Archie.
“We went from the desperation of first hearing the word cancer to hope. The doctors told us they had a plan A, plan B and plan C.”
Lisa, a teacher at Uphall Primary school, added: “You live your fears when you go to bed at night. I’ve cried for many reasons. I’ve cried because I can’t believe this is happening. I’ve cried and asked why does this have to happen to Archie? I’ve cried at the thought of what that next sentence could have been after we were told our son had cancer. The doctor’s next words were, ‘but this cancer is very treatable. We have a good plan.’ What would have happened if they’d said they couldn’t do anything more?
“It’s thanks to research that children like Archie are doing so well today. That’s why raising money for Cancer Research UK for Children and Young People is so important. I hope everyone across Scotland will get behind this vitally important campaign too and turn something they no longer need into funds for such a fantastic cause.”
Cancer Research UK has funded pioneering research into understanding different types of childhood leukaemia, leading to significant improvements in treatments and survival rates. Thanks in large part to the charity’s work, more children are surviving cancer than ever before. But the disease still claims the lives of around 510 under-25s in the UK every year.
Lisa Adams, spokeswoman for Cancer Research UK for children and young people, said: “We’re grateful to the Galloway family for their support during these unprecedented times.
“The truth is Covid-19 has slowed us down, but we will never stop. Cancer in children and young people is different to cancer in adults - from the types of cancer, to the impact of treatment and the long-term side effects survivors often experience. That’s why it needs different, dedicated research which campaigns like Give Up Clothes for Good help to fund.
“We want to help more children and young people survive cancer with a good quality of life. We hope as many people as possible will help to get our life-saving research back on track by donating any quality clothes or goods at their local TK Maxx store.”
