The CLIC Sargent appeal shows the harsh reality faced by children with cancer over the festive period.
Young cancer survivors are starring in a charity’s hard-hitting Christmas appeal.
Six-year-old Matilda Fisher, who spent Christmas Day in hospital in 2016, features in the CLIC Sargent campaign showing the harsh reality faced by children with cancer over the festive period.
Matilda, who also had an emergency operation on Christmas Eve in 2018, is joined by Jason, Amber, Suki and Heidi, all of whom have been supported by the charity.
CLIC Sargent hopes the campaign will show the stark truth of facing Christmas with cancer – and how the charity can help families stay together through its Homes from Home service and support from social workers.
Rachel Kirby-Rider, the charity’s director of income and engagement, said: “Christmas is a magical time for families to enjoy all the lovely things about being together during the festive season – decorating the house, a visit to Santa’s Grotto and, most of all, being together with your family. But when you’re going through cancer treatment at Christmas, all these things are at risk.
“CLIC Sargent’s Christmas campaign in 2019 highlights how cancer costs Christmas, by demonstrating what the festive period looks like for a child when they’re going through cancer treatment, and the impact it has on the wider family who are often separated.
“Our work helps to stop cancer cancelling Christmas. We work with hospitals to get children home for Christmas if medically possible. And if a child has to be in hospital over the festive period, we help to make the most of Christmas with their family and we invite families to stay for free in one of our Homes from Home near hospitals, so they can be close to their child.”
Adam Petrie, the charity’s associate brand director, said this year’s campaign was harder-hitting than previous appeals.
He added: “What last year’s concept didn’t show was the harsh reality of what Christmas can be like for kids going through cancer treatment – not being at home to decorate the tree, having to put their stocking at the end of a hospital bed rather than their own, and eating Christmas dinner with your parents perched on the side of your bed on the ward.
“Christmas is a magical time for just a few short years, and children shouldn't be robbed of that. We expect our portrayal of how cancer cancels Christmas will be uncomfortable for some to see. But we feel it’s important to share with how cancer can spoil the lovely bits of Christmas most people take for granted.”
Anyone wishing to donate can do so via CLIC Sargent’s website or by texting GIVE to 70030 to donate £5.
