Grieving Leeds mums launch childhood cancer awareness campaign

Claire Boitelle of Morley, who lost her twin baby girls Neve and Belle (pictured above) to infant acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, believes that without improved awareness and increased publicity, little will change in terms of early diagnosis, research, treatment or prognosis for children.

Neve died aged just six months old on May 20 2013 and Belle lost her fight for life aged two years and four months in March 2015.

Mrs Boitelle said: “We need iconic buildings across Leeds to illuminate their external facade in gold for September from dusk until dawn.

“We want to improve the profile of childhood cancer in line with that of the more well known adult cancers.”

She added: “Our aim is to ensure the colour gold becomes synonymous with childhood cancer and our awareness month September. So far we have Morley Town Hall, Leeds First Direct Arena and Leeds Civic Hall – subject to a lighting upgrade – signed up. But we need more iconic buildings to get involved.”

Otley mother Sarah Buckley’s son Harry (pictured) died aged six-and-a-half of neuroblastoma cancer in April 2014. She said: “If you don’t have lights, then you could use gold balloons and have an awareness event.”

For more information, go to www.facebook.com/GlowGoldSeptember/