Young Lives vs Cancer to support Ukrainian children arriving in the UK for cancer treatment

Children’s cancer charity Young Lives vs Cancer will be supporting young cancer patients as they arrive on emergency flights from the conflict in Ukraine to continue their treatment in the UK.  

The charity, is working with its colleagues in NHS England and Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group to support children who began arriving on the weekend.

Chief Executive of Young Lives vs Cancer, Rachel Kirby-Rider said: “As a charity supporting children and young people with cancer, we know just how frightening life with cancer can be and that’s without the added horror of war.

“Our hearts go out to everyone impacted by the war in Ukraine, which is why we’re ready to make sure that these children and their families get the emotional, financial and practical support they need to face cancer in a safe place.” 

The charity’s social workers based in specialist treatment hospitals will be providing emotional and practical support to the families including offering financial grants to help with essential costs such as food and travelling to the hospital. Young Lives vs Cancer also has Homes from Home near to hospitals where families can stay for free during their child’s treatment.  

ENDS

Notes to editors

For more information please contact Jessica Browne on 077 4119 5055 or email on jessica.browne@younglivesvscancer.org.uk

About cancer in children and young people
Today, 12 more children and young people in the UK will hear the devastating news that they have cancer. Treatment normally starts immediately, is often given many miles from home and can last for up to three years. Although survival rates are over 80%, cancer remains the single largest cause of death from disease in children and young people in the UK.

About Young Lives vs Cancer
When a child is diagnosed with cancer life becomes full of fear, for them and their family. Fear of treatment, but also of families being torn apart, overwhelming money worries, of having nowhere to turn, no one to talk to.

Young Lives vs Cancer is the charity that helps children and young people (0-25) and their families find the strength to face whatever cancer throws at them. We’ve been there before. We’ll face it all, together. For more information, visit www.younglivesvscancer.org.uk

Note to sub editors
Always use our name in full: Young Lives vs Cancer and write it with only the Y, L and C capitalised. But don’t capitalise ‘vs’.

‘Young Lives vs Cancer’ should be not be abbreviated – it’s not “Young Lives” for short, nor “YLvC”.