Gold Geese, an Essex charity supporting local children living with cancer is calling on the local community to ‘Go Gold’ this month to increase awareness of the signs and symptoms of childhood cancer.
September is childhood cancer awareness month, and around 1,900 children in the UK are diagnosed with cancer each year1. Gold Geese, based in Leigh-on-Sea, provides practical and emotional support to families of children and young people fighting cancer in the Southend and Basildon areas.
Since its launch six years ago the charity has helped over 100 families with support ranging from funding for mental health therapy and food shop vouchers to toys, weekend trips away and practical help with travel to and from hospital.
Now in its 9th year, the Go Gold campaign sees dozens of local businesses and schools turn gold or yellow to raise awareness of childhood cancer and show their support for local families affected.
While children’s cancer is much less common than adults’, symptoms can be similar to other illnesses and can be difficult to spot. Some symptoms include unexplained vomiting, changes in the appearance of the eye or unusual eye reflections in photos, tummy pain or swelling that doesn’t go away, frequent or unexplained bruising, or a rash of small red or purple spots that can’t be explained.
Go Gold 2024 kicked off on Sunday with a special convoy of thirteen gold and yellow cars which took a tour of the streets of Leigh on Sea and Chalkwell to raise awareness of childhood cancer.
Other Go Gold events this month include
dozens of shop windows and businesses in Leigh and Rayleigh turning gold
teens from The Song School busking in Chelmsford to raise awareness
a golf day fundraiser in Thorpe Bay
several schools hosting yellow and gold non-uniform days
The much-loved Gold Geese gold train, launched with its ‘we fly together’ message with railway company c2c two years ago, is still in operation and to date has carried over 46 million travellers.
Katie Southgate, founder of Gold Geese, said:
“Our annual Go Gold campaign is a brilliant way to show your support for local children living with cancer and to help improve awareness of the signs and symptoms.
“We raise awareness of some example symptoms but if you spot them in your child don’t immediately panic – remember that they’re usually not cancer. However it’s important to trust your instincts, don’t be afraid to ask for further tests if you think there is something really wrong with your child.
“If you’d like to support the campaign you could Go Gold at school or work by wearing yellow or gold for the day, hold a bake sale or help us raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of childhood cancer.
“We rely on community support and fundraising to do our work and receive no Government funding, so every little bit helps.”
Free Go Gold posters are available to collect from Cult Coffee on Leigh Road, Leigh on Sea.
For support, information or to donate visit www.goldgeese.org.
You can also donate to Gold Geese via text. Text GOLD followed by the amount you wish to donate to 70580 (for example, GOLD 50 to donate £50). Texts cost the donation amount plus one standard network rate message.
