Staff from Bexhill based insurance broker, Hastings Direct, are going purple for the day on Friday April 4th to raise money to help fight a devastating childhood cancer — Neuroblastoma and they are just one of over 20 Sussex businesses, clubs, schools and churches that will be taking up the purple challenge.
Little Common School, Identity Signage & Printing, Azur Marina, Sussex Bed Centre, Commando Fitness UK, Senlac Inn, Boom Active Kids Fitness, St Mary's Nursery, Battle are just some of organisations which have been the first to sign up and pledge their support to turn purple raising funds for the Neuroblastoma Children's Cancer Alliance UK.
Neuroblastoma is a very aggressive childhood cancer and two children each week in the UK are diagnosed with this life limiting cancer. The NCCA helps families access potentially lifesaving treatment whilst supporting research that not only aims to introduce new treatments but also bring existing internationally available options here to the UK.
The work of the NCCA was brought to the attention of Hastings Direct's commercial manager, Chris Hawkes after he heard a Brighton father speaking about his four year old son's — Felix — battle with this disease. A battle Felix ultimately lost after treatment including seventeen rounds of chemotherapy in August last year.
Felix's mum and dad — Matt and Colleen White: "Imagine being told your child has a disease which has no cure and the desperation of doing anything possible to keep your little one alive? For us, the Neuroblastoma Alliance became our enabler, providing access to the care and options we needed for Felix. Options which the NHS did not, and does not provide. By spreading awareness of Neuroblastoma, we can help other kids and their families battling this horrendous cancer so that one day a cure may be discovered. What a day that will be."
Let's Turn Sussex Purple organiser, Chris Hawkes: "We are asking every Sussex business, club, school and college to consider turning purple on Friday April 4th — if everyone who participates donates just one pound to go purple we will be able to raise not only a significant amount of money to support these children through treatment, but more importantly awareness of this cancer."
NCCA UK Chief Executive Bettina Bungay-Balwah: "We're still working tirelessly to raise funds for new UK trials and bring promising international treatments to the UK, but unfortunately some families and friends are left with no other option but to fundraise for specialist trialled treatment when needed. I would urge anybody reading this to "go purple" and help us beat this aggressive cancer."
For more information on the work of the NCCA please visit www.ncca-uk.org
To make a donation please visit www.justgiving.com/TurnSussexPurple
For more information about how your organisation can participate search for Let's Turn Sussex Purple Appeal on Facebook or contact Chris Hawkes at chrishawkes@hastingsdirect.com
Let's Turn Sussex Purple
The following companies and organisations have already committed to Turn Purple on Friday April 4th:
- Hastings Direct
- Yummy Bakes
- Ore Clinic
- Little Common School
- Identity Signage & Printing
- Boom Active Kids Fitness
- St Mary's Nursery (Battle)
- Commando Fitness UK
- Battle Pre-School
- Paul McCleery PT
- Senlac Inn
- BJ Events
- 4050 Media
- Medica
- Azur Marina
- St Leonards Glass
- Heart of Sidley (community group)
- Jigsaw Day Nursery (YMCA Hastings)
- Fat Face (Battle)
- All Saints Church (Sidley)
- Sussex Bed Centre
- Rare and Unique (Shop — Sidley)
- Tempo — Specialist Running Shop (Eastbourne)