BIRMINGHAM Airport supported childhood cancer by being part of its awareness campaign.
The airport’s Air Traffic Control Tower (ATC) was lit up gold from dusk to dawn on September 1 to support a group of parents of children with cancer to raise awareness of children’s cancer.
The airport is taking part in Glow Gold September, which is a childhood cancer awareness campaign to get iconic buildings and landmarks throughout the UK and the rest of the world to illuminate in gold during the month of September, using the interest generated to spread the word on the early warning signs and symptoms.
Julie Yates, mum of 16 year old Niamh who had bone cancer in 2012 and is now four years in remission approached the airport to ask for support of the campaign.
She said: “Our aim at Glow Gold has been to ensure the colour gold becomes synonymous with childhood cancer and our awareness month September.
“We have been asking iconic buildings and landmarks to illuminate gold and have been asking charities to work together to raise the profile of childhood cancer and improve awareness.
“We hope with the interest generated to disseminate the early warning signs and symptoms through the be child cancer aware and headsmart awareness cards”
Eleven children and young people are diagnosed with cancer in the UK every day. Of those over a quarter won’t survive the treatment and the vast majority will be left with lifelong side effects from the treatments that have changed little in the last 30 years.
Julie added: “Knowledge is power, and we wish to empower parents with the knowledge required to pick up the signs and symptoms early.
“We are proud to have over 190 buildings and landmarks signed up to Glow Gold in September throughout the UK and the rest of the world – from Birmingham Airport ATC Tower and Old Joe Clocktower to Edinburgh Castle, Canary Wharf, Niagara Falls and the Olympic Cauldron Vancouver.
“With increased awareness, comes earlier diagnosis, increased funding, increased research, kinder more targeted therapy and ultimately a change in the prognosis for kids diagnosed with childhood cancer. We can’t affect the future of our own children and grandchildren but we are determined to change the future for others. Let’s get the world glowing gold this September!
