‘Turn the landmark gold’ for cancer

Hundreds of parents of children with cancer have backed a charity initiative to turn landmarks in every county gold next month in what is set to be the most far-reaching awareness campaign ever launched in this country for seriously ill youngsters.

The ‘Light It Up Gold’ campaign, which will be held throughout September to mark what is internationally recognised as childhood cancer awareness month, is already on course to dwarf last year’s successful inaugural event in Ireland.

The Childhood Cancer Foundation, which is organising the initiative, has so far secured commitments for at least 100 famous landmarks and buildings — more than double the number in last year’s campaign — to be lit up across 29 of the island’s 32 counties.

Some of the structures that will be shining gold throughout September include the Mansion House in Dublin, Belfast City Hall, Cork Opera House, Eyre Square in Galway, and the Dunbrody famine ship in Waterford.

However, chiefs of the recently formed nationwide charity, which is run by family members of children affected by various childhood cancers, said they are confident that, by the start of September, every county on the island will turn gold.

The charity’s spokeswoman, Gillian Smith, said it is vital that the campaign is as far-reaching and pervasive as possible to inform parents of children with cancer that they are not alone.

Ms Smith, whose now cancer-free 12-year-old son Dylan received life-saving surgery in the US two years ago when a tumour was removed from his brain, said: “Over 200 children are diagnosed with cancer each year in Ireland. That’s four families each week who hear the devastating news.

“But many still feel isolated, alone and don’t know where to turn to for help and support. That’s why we came together to set up a national childhood cancer charity earlier this year. We want families to know there’s an organisation that they can turn to to find out about services and their entitlements and one that will advocate on behalf of children affected by the disease and work to raise awareness.

“Increased awareness will improve early detection and increase understanding, which will hopefully reduce the isolation of families going through childhood cancer treatment.”

Light It Up Gold, which will run in at least 15 other countries in September, was started in America two years ago .

* More on the campaign at www.childhoodcancer.ie