Too many children carry the lifelong burden of surviving cancer, when the only thing they should carry is their teddy bear

• To mark the 35^th anniversary of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month this September, Children with Cancer UK launches ‘Always by Your Side’, a powerful new film spotlighting the emotional and physical journeys of children facing cancer.

• Corry, the teddy bear featured in the film, was inspired by nine-year-old Olivia, who was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour at 17 months old, leaving her blind. Her teddy bear Corry has been by her side during her ongoing cancer journey.

• With two out of three children who survive childhood cancer will live with serious side effects for the rest of their lives, the charity is calling on the public to help ensure a teddy is the only thing a child has to carry after cancer and not the lifelong burden of its treatment.
  
  

This September, to mark the 35^th anniversary of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, Children with Cancer UK is launching ‘Always by Your Side’, an educational animation film that highlights the emotional and physical journeys children face during cancer treatments.

The film introduces a teddy bear named ‘Corry’ to help bring to life the unthinkably tough cancer journeys many children experience. Corry was inspired by nine-year-old Olivia, who was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour at just 17 months old, which left her blind. During her ongoing treatment, Olivia’s teddy bear Corry has never left her side.

Olivia’s Dad, Matthew Taylor, said:

Olivia was just 17 months old when our lives changed forever. My wife and I were told our little girl had a massive brain tumour that was inoperable due to its location. Surgery would mean complete loss of vision as the tumour had engulfed both optic nerves.

We clung to the hope that chemotherapy might shrink the tumour and save her sight, but it was already too late. Just weeks after her diagnosis, Olivia woke up screaming in pain, the pressure from the large tumour had damaged her optic nerves. She was blind.  

Since then, Olivia has faced a relentless cycle of treatments. It’s been heartbreaking to watch her get so sick and see the lasting damage these harsh cancer treatments cause.

Through it all, her teddy Corry has been her constant companion, offering comfort when words couldn’t.

Olivia has shown extraordinary courage and I’m so proud of her. Cancer may have taken her sight, but it hasn’t dimmed her sparkle.

With 10 children diagnosed with cancer every day in the UK, Children with Cancer UK is urging the public to stand with these brave young children and their families this Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

As the UK’s leading childhood cancer charity, Children with Cancer UK funds pioneering research into gentler, more effective treatments and provides vital support to families throughout their cancer journeys.

Gavin Maggs, CEO of Children with Cancer UK, said:

Too many children carry the lifelong burden of surviving cancer, when the only thing they should carry is their teddy bear.

Olivia’s story is a powerful reminder of the urgent need for early diagnosis and kinder cancer treatments for children. Two out of three children who survive cancer live with serious long-term side effects – from heart and lung problems to stunted growth and learning difficulties. Childhood cancer treatments are still adapted from adult chemotherapy that is harsh, toxic and not designed for growing bodies.

We’re calling for everyone to help us change this, to stand by these children’s side and help fund vital research into gentler, faster and more effective treatments made for children.

Together, we can bring hope and comfort to every child on their cancer journey. Let’s stand together and stand by their side.

Find out how you can support children with cancer this Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

About Children with Cancer UK:

Children with Cancer UK is the leading children’s cancer charity in the UK. Our vision is a world where every child and young person survives their cancer diagnosis. Our mission is to improve survival rates and the quality of survival in young patients, and to find ways to prevent cancer in the future. We are dedicated to raising and investing funds into vital research that helps us understand childhood cancers and improves treatments. We support families as they navigate treatment and life beyond cancer. What began as a small memorial charity in 1988, has evolved into a leading childhood cancer charity raising more than £300 million and investing in over 300 pioneering research projects.

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