Corey urges us all to clear out our wardrobes

Five-year-old Corey Ashton-Barker from Limeside is urging people across the north-west to Give up Clothes for Good and help save the lives of children with cancer.

A schoolboy from Oldham is urging people across the north-west to clear out their wardrobes and raise money to help fund research into children’s cancers.

Five-year-old Corey Ashton-Barker, from Limeside, who was treated for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia – a cancer of the white blood cells, is supporting TK Maxx’s Give Up Clothes for Good campaign in support of Cancer Research UK Kids & Teens.

Corey, who had to learn to walk again following treatment, is rallying people to donate good quality clothing, accessories and homeware they no longer need to their nearest TK Maxx store.

The five-year-old posed on a heap of clothes to highlight the message that pre-loved clothing and wardrobe items can really help save lives.

Each bag donated could raise up to £30 when sold in Cancer Research UK shops.

The money raised will help fund research to find new, better and kinder treatments for children and young people with cancer.

Corey is one of around 175 children in the north-west who are diagnosed with cancer every year.

His family know first-hand how important research is in helping more children and young people survive cancer.

The youngster, who attends Holy Family RC primary school, was diagnosed with ALL in May 2016.

Lynn-Marie and Corey’s dad Mark Ashton, received the devastating news Corey had cancer after Lynne-Marie took him to A&E at the Royal Oldham hospital when a high temperature and persistent cough failed to go away.

Corey was initially diagnosed with pneumonia but then routine blood tests showed he also had leukaemia as well.

He was given an immediate blood and platelets transfusion and had to spend the next 13 weeks in hospital, fighting the pneumonia and receiving intensive chemotherapy.

Corey’s treatment also involved many lumbar procedures, including some where chemotherapy drugs were injected directly into his spine, carried out under general anaesthetic.

Manchester City fan Corey, who has a big brother Tyler aged nine, responded well to his treatment and is now on a maintenance oral-administered chemotherapy which he will need to take until summer 2019.

Sadly Corey’s treatment caused a number of side effects and as well as losing his hair, he also became so weak from being bed-ridden that he needed physiotherapy to learn to walk again.

Lynn-Marie, who volunteers at her sons’ primary school, said: “That’s why raising funds for Cancer Research UK Kids & Teens is so important.
“Corey, Tyler and I will be having a good clear out at home and finding clothes and items to donate to our local TK Maxx store.

"I hope everyone in the North West gets behind the campaign by raiding their wardrobes to help raise funds for such a fantastic cause.”

Jane Bullock, Cancer Research UK Kids & Teens spokesperson for the north-west, said: “It’s fantastic to see Corey as the face of Give up Clothes for Good – he has been through so much at such a young age.

“Thanks to research, more children and young people are surviving cancer than ever before. But there’s still so much more to do.

“Our mission is to bring forward the day when no youngster dies of cancer. And that those who survive do so with a good quality of life.

“We’re able to carry out research to help find new, better and kinder treatments for children and young people with cancer thanks to donations raised through campaigns like Give Up Clothes for Good.

“So we hope everyone across the North West will support the campaign and donate any pre-loved clothes or goods to their local TK Maxx store. Every item donated will help bring us one step closer to beating the disease.”

TK Maxx is the biggest corporate supporter of Cancer Research UK’s research into children's cancers. Since 2004, they have raised over £32 million for Cancer Research UK’s work through stock and cash donations.

Of that total, over £28 million contributes specifically to pioneering research into new, better and kinder treatments for children and young people with cancer, with a further £4 million supporting general cancer research.

Jo Murphy, AVP Corporate Responsibility TJX Europe said: “At TK Maxx we’re committed to supporting children and young people in our local communities.

"We’re really proud to work together with Cancer Research UK to help beat children’s cancers sooner and we hope that everyone will join us by supporting Give Up Clothes for Good this February.”

Donated items are being collected from all TK Maxx stores across the UK, including the store in Union Street, Oldham.

For more information on how to support Give up Clothes for Good and Cancer Research UK Kids & Teens, visit cruk.org/kidsandteens