Birmingham Airport is supporting childhood cancer by being part of its awareness campaign. From the 1st September Birmingham Airport’s Air Traffic Control Tower (ATC) will be lit up gold from dusk to dawn 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 4 years in remission approached the Airport to ask for support of the campaign. Julie says “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”
Jo Lloyd, Commercial Director commented: “We are delighted to join in this very worthwhile cause. Birmingham Airport’s Air Traffic Control Tower is an iconic building in the Midlands and it made perfect sense for the Airport to be involved and for us to join in and light the tower up gold. Hopefully with awareness more can be done to see the early warning signs and help children and young people.”
11 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 continues “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. Most venues will be glowing gold on the evening of the 1st from dusk until dawn in tribute to the children and families affected by childhood cancer, past and present. We are asking people to come along to our advertised events and please take photos of the illuminations and send them in to us, as we would love to see them.”
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!
