Store workers’ cancer stories featured on Mother’s Day fund-raising charity cards
TWO Loughborough supermarket workers have been featured on a Mother’s Day card to raise funds for Cancer Research UK.
Odette Newman and Mike Harrison, who both work at the Loughborough Extra store, have had their photographs and stories included on the Hallmark card, which is on sale in all large Tesco stores.
The card has been produced to connect and support people affected by the disease, as well as to raise vital funds for the charity.
Tesco is celebrating its 20th year of partnership with Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life -a series of 3k, 5k, 10k, Pretty Muddy, and Pretty Muddy Kids events, which raise millions of pounds every year to help beat cancer by funding crucial research.
Money raised through Race for Life funds research to help beat 200 types of cancer - including bowel cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, lung cancer, testicular cancer, brain cancer, children’s cancers, and leukaemia.
Odette said: “I have taken part in Race for Life for many years, as I’ve lost my mum, dad and sister to cancer.
“It still hurts every time someone asks about my family and what happened to them.
“Cancer Research UK is important to me because I know they are doing amazing work. It’s only through research that, hopefully, we will find a cure. I don’t want anybody else to lose their family to cancer.”
Covid-19 has caused a devastating loss of research funding. Cancer Research UK is predicting a £300 million drop in income over the next three years, which could put future medical breakthroughs at risk.
The charity is calling on men, women and children to fight back against the devastating disease by entering a Race for Life event.
Mike said: “Cancer affects your health, but not your hope, courage and determination to embrace all the good that life offers.
“Having experienced cancer myself in 2017, I would tell people to keep on fighting because if you get through it, you will come back stronger and without fear for even the hardest things that life can throw at you.” The money raised will help scientists find new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer, helping to save more lives.
Mike has been in remission from Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia (CML) cancer since 2018.
Oonagh Turnbull, head of charity campaigns at Tesco, said: “We’re incredibly proud of our colleagues, who have chosen to share their stories on these cards.
“We hope they will inspire others facing cancer and the money they raise will make a difference to so many lives.” Oonagh says for the last 20 years, Tesco’s partnership with CRUK has helped to raise millions of pounds for life-saving research, and the stores continue to take part in events and work hard to ensure it goes from strength to strength.
Lisa Adams, Cancer Research UK spokesman, said: “We’d like to thank Tesco for their support and to all their employees who throw themselves heart and soul in to fundraising for the charity.
“By signing up to Race for Life, people can make a real difference in the fight against cancer. All 400 mass-participation events were cancelled last year to protect the country’s health during the pandemic.”
Participants will set off on the course either alone or in small socially-distanced groups.
Lisa said: “This year, more than ever, we need people to come together and help beat the disease. We’ll ask participants to respect social distancing before, during and after the event.
“This year, people should refrain from hugging others at the finish line, but we promise our events will remain fun, colourful, emotional and uplifting.” The Mother’s Day cards, which are priced at £1 - £1.50, are on sale in a range of large stores from February 1 to March 14.
To enter Race for Life, please visit the website.
I have taken part in Race for Life for many years, as I’ve lost my mum, dad and sister to cancer.
Odette Newman, pictured