PUPILS and teachers across the region are being urged to unite with schools across the UK and Stand Up To Cancer.
Teachers are being encouraged to sign up now for their free fundraising pack to support Stand Up To Cancer, a joint fundraising campaign from Cancer Research UK and Channel 4.
Launched in the UK in 2012, Stand Up To Cancer has already raised more than £25million to fund translational research, accelerating progress in cancer research and speeding up breakthroughs from labs to patients.
Stand Up To Cancer is supported by a host of celebrities including Davina McCall, Alan Carr and Adam Hills.
This year’s campaign culminates on Friday, October 21 with a night of live TV on Channel 4 led by the brightest stars in film, TV and music.
By joining Stand Up To Cancer, pupils and teachers in Warwickshire will be coming together with celebrities, doctors, nurses and scientists to generate funds, raise awareness and help accelerate life-saving research.
There are lots of ways for schools to get involved – from organising non-uniform days and selling special wristbands to setting fundraising challenges.
The fundraising pack includes everything schools need – including specially-designed lesson plans, materials and fundraising ideas.
TV presenter Kirstie Allsopp supports Stand Up To Cancer and last year visited schools taking part in the fundraising. Now, she is urging everyone in the West Midlands to get involved.
Kirstie said: “Stand Up To Cancer is a cause that’s very close to my heart, as I lost my mum and other family members to this dreadful disease. That’s why I’m asking everyone in the West Midlands to join me and make a stand.
“We need to raise funds to give cancer research the boost it needs to help develop treatments more quickly and save more lives. This is an opportunity to join a collective force of millions in the fight against cancer. I know that schools in West Midlands are up to the challenge.”
All the money raised for Stand Up To Cancer will fund translational research. This takes developments in the lab and transforms them into brand new tests and treatments for cancer patients.
Jane Redman, Cancer Research UK’s spokesperson for the West Midlands, said: “One in two people will develop cancer at some point in their lifetime but our fight against this disease is at a turning point.
“Thanks to advances in knowledge, technology and ground-breaking research, more people in the UK are surviving than ever before.
“Stand Up To Cancer aims to accelerate the translation of brilliant scientific discoveries into innovative cancer medicine, tests and treatments. Every pound raised will help to support this progress and save more lives.
“Thousands of pupils and teachers have already joined the movement to Stand Up To Cancer and we want this year to be bigger and better than ever. We’re urging schools across the West Midlands to join us.”
For more information and to get a free fundraising pack visit standuptocancer.org.uk/schools
Schools in the West Midlands are invited to stand up in the fight against cancer and choose their fundraising challenge:
• NON-UNIFORM DAY – Help fundraise for Stand Up To Cancer by swapping your uniform for your own clothes or why not dress head-to-toe in orange for the day. The choice is yours, so dress to impress!
• STAND UP AND SELL BANDS – Boost your fundraising by ordering a box of specially-designed Stand Up To Cancer wristbands and sell them around the school.
• STAND UP FOR A LAUGH – Host an open mic comedy competition and ask people to pay to watch. The funniest act wins!
• HUMAN WALL – Invite teachers and pupils to come together to link arms and stand united in a ‘human wall’ around the school.
• STEP UP TO STAND UP – Set yourself a school pedometer challenge, whether it’s 3k, 5k or 10k steps. Get sponsored by the number of steps or by the mile and challenge your friends to take part.
• STAND UP FOR ONE DAY – Rise to your feet and get sponsored to stand all day – so that means no chairs in class, no sitting on the desks at break-time and no grabbing a bench at lunch.
