Pixie Lott and other celebrity guests surprise kids with messages of support during the virtual Star Award ceremony.
Star Award winner Mikail with his family.
Children treated for cancer in the UK have been celebrated in a virtual awards ceremony to recognize their extraordinary courage.
The Cancer Research UK for Children & Young People Star Awards invited the kids to a virtual red carpet before the show, with special guest appearances from singer-songwriter Pixie Lott, TV personalities Dr. Ranj and Joe Tasker, and TikTok stars Flossie Clegg, Lewys Ball and Olivia Neill, attended to congratulate the award winners.
The Star Awards are organized in conjunction with TK Maxx, with nominations open all year round.
A large number of stars
Mikail, 9, from Essex, is one of the young people featured in the Star Awards special film.
Mikail was diagnosed with advanced Hodgkin lymphoma in October 2020 after developing a lump in his neck. After diagnosis, Mikail underwent 6 months of chemotherapy which led to some serious side effects, which prevented him from walking properly.
His mother, Arzu, says: “Mikail has been so brave and strong. He never once cried or complained about his cancer. He is a very positive boy. We are very proud of him. His friends were great and he showed them his Star Award too.”
Darcy, aged 5, from Suffolk, was another excited Star Award winner.
Darcy, who was diagnosed with Wilms tumor in April 2020, was another excited star awards winner.
Darcy was diagnosed with Wilms tumor in April 2020, after her parents noticed she was listless, had lost her appetite and complained of pain in her legs.
In the past year she has had 4 surgeries, 4 weeks in the ICU, 36 weeks of chemotherapy and 10 rounds of radiotherapy. Due to the pandemic, Darcy’s parents had to take turns visiting her. And at one point, they weren’t even able to wait in the hospital while she underwent emergency surgery.
Darcy’s mother, Emily, says: “Nothing will ever be as it was, and we know there are also longer-term effects and an increased risk of new cancers. We’re so passionate about the need for treatments that don’t have these long-term effects – we’re eager to raise awareness to help more research so improvements can be made.”
Cancer Research UK Star Awards
The awards are presented in partnership with TK Maxx, who have raised £44 million for Cancer Research UK over the past 16 years.
About 4,200 children and young people aged 0 to 24 are diagnosed with cancer each year in the UK. That’s about 350 cases per month and 81 cases per week.
Thanks to research, 8 in 10 children and young people with cancer in the UK now survive their disease for at least 10 years.
dr. Sheona Scales, Head of Childhood Cancer at Cancer Research UK, said: “A diagnosis of cancer as a child or young person, and the treatment that follows, has a huge impact on both the children and their families.
“The Cancer Research UK for Children & Young People Star Awards recognize the incredible courage and determination children show when undergoing treatment.”
The nominations for the Star Awards are now open. The awards are open to all children under the age of 18 living in the UK who have been treated for cancer in the past 5 years.
Each eligible child will receive a trophy, a £50 TK Maxx gift card, a t-shirt and a certificate signed by celebrities who support the campaign. Their siblings also receive a certificate.
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