Gemma Atkinson and Gorka Marquez open new Teenage Cancer Trust treatment room in Manchester
It was funded by our charity Cash for Kids
This week has seen local celebs turn out for the opening of a brand-new bone marrow transplant treatment room at the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital thanks to funding from our charity Cash for Kids.
The treatment room was officially opened by our very own Hits Radio breakfast presenter, Gemma Atkinson and her Strictly Come Dancing star boyfriend, Gorka Marquez.
Our listeners helped to raise £103,220 through last year's Cash for Kids Superhero Day.
The transformed space has been especially designed with teenagers and young adults in mind, to help keep their lives as normal as possible during cancer treatment. Kitted out with all the tech essentials, the room boasts a TV, DVD player, gaming station and Wi-Fi. There is also a drop-down guest bed so friends and family can stay the night comfortably, just like they would at home.
Before the transformation, both staff and patients reported that the rooms were dark and unwelcoming with no storage or entertainment facilities.
Gemma, along with fellow celebrities including Denise Welch, all took part in the Hits Radio Cash for Kids ‘Superhero Day’ in May 2018 to raise as much money as possible for the cause.
Gemma and her co-presenters stayed on air for a grueling 12 hours as listeners set them challenges in exchange for donations. Young people with cancer also shared their stories on air, highlighting the importance of the specialised and age-appropriate care provided by Teenage Cancer Trust.
Speaking after the visit, Gemma Atkinson of Hits Radio said: “It was brilliant to see the new treatment room today follow Cash for Kids incredible Superhero Day last year. Our amazing Hits radio listeners and Cash for Kids supporters have been able to make a massive difference to support young people living with cancer living in and around Manchester.”
Vanessa Simmonds, Teenage Cancer Trust Head of Regional Fundraising West and Wales, said: “On behalf of Teenage Cancer Trust, I would like to say a massive thank you to Hits Radio and its generous listeners for making the enhancement of the Bone Marrow Treatment room possible.
"We’re the only UK charity dedicated to providing specialist care and support to around 330 young people diagnosed with cancer each year in the North West, and the new treatment room will hugely benefit some of these young people. It was fantastic to have Gemma and Gorka officially opening the room, so they could see for themselves the impact of the Superhero Day fundraising”
Michelle Williamson, Charity Manager at Cash for Kids, said: “We are incredibly grateful to Gemma and Gorka for taking the time to open the new treatment room at Manchester Children’s Hospital with us. Without the fundraising efforts of those involved in Cash for Kids Superhero Day, we would not have the opportunity to support deserving charities such as Teenage Cancer Trust.
“Our Superhero Day is not only great fun for all involved but a key date in our fundraising calendar. It’s so important to us that we go above and beyond in all of our endeavors to ensure we raise as much money as possible to positively impact as many young lives as we can. The money raised enables us to help disadvantaged children across the Greater Manchester area and it’s amazing to see the benefits the funding can have.”
Cash for Kids’ Superhero Day funding has also covered the activity budget of Teenage Cancer Trust’s youth support coordinator (YSC) at RMCH for the next 10 years. The role of youth support coordinator is unique to the charity and they are specially trained to give young people tailored support to their individual needs, personality and personal situation.
Around 350 young people living in the region are expected to benefit from the funding over the next five years.
To find out more about Cash for Kids, including eligibility for submitting a funding application, click here.