Brave Staffordshire youngster Bethany leaps behind cancer appeal
'You hear that word and immediately associate it with death – I was terrified I was going to lose her'.
These are the words of Staffordshire mum Becky Jennings whose daughter Bethany was diagnosed with cancer as a young child.
After visiting the doctors with blood in her urine in August last year it was confirmed she had a form of kidney cancer called Wilms Tumour.
Bethany, aged eight, from Burntwood, had to undergo 31 weeks of chemotherapy, lost her long hair, and went through a five and a half hour operation to remove her kidney.
Mrs Jennings said: "She's been so strong all the way through.
"We went back and forth to the doctors and they thought she had a urine infection.
"Eventually Bethany noticed a lump sticking out of her side so we took her straight to the hospital.
"I thought it might be related to her kidneys but I never thought it would be cancer.
"The cancer had completely taken over but fortunately it hadn't spread so they were able to remove it.
"She was ever so brave and although she came home a few days later she had to have another 26 weeks of chemotherapy."
To the delight of her family, Bethany got the all clear in March and entered into remission.
Now, with the help of her 12-year-old sister Sophie, the two siblings are supporting Give Up Clothes for Good, a partnership between retailer TK Maxx and Cancer Research UK Kids & Teens.
The sisters created a video to help spread awareness of the campaign, in which they are seen trying on quirky outfits in a fit of giggles.
Each bag of donated items will be transformed into vital funds for research into cures and kinder treatments for cancers affecting children, teens and young adults, when they are sold in Cancer Research UK shops.
Since its launch in 2004, everyone who has detoxed their cupboards or donated money in support of Give Up Clothes for Good has helped TK Maxx raise a staggering £25.5 million for Cancer Research UK.
Mrs Jennings said: "We are urging people across the Midlands to support Give Up Clothes for Good by whittling down their wardrobes, clearing out their cupboards and dropping off as many unwanted items as they can at TK Maxx stores.
"We have had a good de-clutter and hope others will be inspired to do the same.
"That way, we can all help Cancer Research UK Kids & Teens ensure more children, like Bethany survive cancer in the future."
Paula Young, a Cancer Research UK spokesperson for Staffordshire, said thanks to research, more youngsters were surviving cancer than ever before.
"But there's still so much more to do," she said.
"The disease has a devastating impact on children, forcing them to show bravery beyond their years.
"Unfortunately, some children also have to face living with side-effects from their treatment which can last long into adult life.
"So we hope people will support our mission to find cures and kinder treatments for children's cancers.
"Each item of clothing donated at TK Maxx will bring us one step closer to beating the disease."
Tony Slipman, retail director for TK Maxx, said the Give Up Clothes for Good Campaign had been running for more than 12 years.
"Thanks to the generosity of the British public, we have been able to raise over £25.5 million for Cancer Research UK," she said. "We're very proud of the contribution that we can make that will help Cancer Research UK do the vital work to beat children's cancers and support improvement in treatments and cures for children affected by cancer."
For more information on how to support Give Up Clothes for Good and Cancer Research UK Kids & Teens, visit www.cruk.org/kidsandteens
