National treasure Gok Wan to chop his locks live on TV in solidarity of young girl diagnosed with cancer

Fashion expert, award-winning TV presenter and all round national treasure Gok Wan MBE is facing the scissors for Gok’s Chop live on TV in solidarity of his cousin’s 12-year-old daughter who was recently diagnosed with cancer.

Gok will be having his hair cut for charity on ITV on This Morning, on Thursday 1^st July. He has already raised more than £20,000 for the challenge.

The decision to chop his locks came after Gok’s cousin’s daughter Alyssa, 12, shaved her head as her hair started failing out from chemotherapy treatment. Alyssa was diagnosed with leukaemia just three weeks ago.

Gok said: “As you can imagine this news has been a huge shock and a really scary time for Alyssa and my family.

“Alyssa is being very well looked after by our incredible NHS in Leicester. She has started her chemotherapy and is thankfully reacting well to the treatment. On Wednesday, Alyssa made the brave decision to shave her head as the treatment has already started to make her hair fall out. I think she looks just as beautiful, if not more!”

To show his support for Alyssa and to support other children facing cancer, Gok decided he wanted to take on a charity challenge to raise money – and no better way than to lose his fabulous hair and signature style.

Gok said: “To show my support to her, and the many people who are undoing cancer treatment, I’ve decided to have my hair cut off and raise as much money as possible for an incredible charity who help young people like Alyssa and their families.

“All the money will go to Young Lives vs Cancer, a charity that does wonderful and vital work supporting children and young people under 25 with cancer and their families.”

Young Lives vs Cancer is the UK’s leading cancer charity for children and young people living with cancer.

Gok said: “Money raised will help Young Lives vs Cancer give families strength to face whatever cancer throws at them. From social worker support to giving financial grants to families and providing free Home from Homes close to the hospitals for parents to stay near their child, Young Lives vs Cancer provide specialist care so that no family ever has to be alone facing cancer. I’m happy to be supporting such a brilliant charity.”

Lizzie March, Celebrity and Partnerships Manager at Young Lives vs Cancer said: “We are so excited to see Gok lose his locks live on TV and all for Alyssa and Young Lives vs Cancer. We can’t thank him enough for his support and amazing challenge. His efforts mean our social workers can be there for the children and young people facing cancer and their families at a time when they need it most.”

Gok said: “Please join us on This Morning on 1^st July, and let’s raise as much money as possible for the families and young people who really need our support.

“Thank you so much in advance to everyone who donates from me, Alyssa and all of the families who will benefit from this fundraiser.”

To sponsor Gok, click here.

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”.