Eleven-year-old Kitty joined us in the CHECT office recently to help us to raise some awareness of retinoblastoma during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Kitty explains how the day went:
Hi, I’m Kitty, and September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month! This is a time for people to learn more about different kinds of childhood cancer, and one that not many people know about is retinoblastoma (Rb). It’s a rare type of eye cancer that usually affects little kids. In the UK, the only charity that helps children with Rb is the Childhood Eye Cancer Trust (CHECT). They do such amazing work, not just for kids with Rb, but for their families too. They give support in so many ways – emotionally and practically – to make sure families know what to expect and how to deal with everything.
I was lucky enough to visit the CHECT office, and they were so welcoming! While I was there, I interviewed two amazing people: Priyanka, who is the Fundraising Manager at CHECT, and Lena, a Support Worker at the Royal London Hospital (RLH). It was super interesting to hear how both of them help families like mine. Priyanka’s job is all about raising money, so CHECT can keep doing its work, and Lena helps families cope with the really tough times. Seeing how dedicated they are, has made me realise how important it is to have charities like CHECT, so no one feels alone in their journey with Rb. If you want to hear more about our chat, check out my YouTube channel, KittyVisionUK!
@chect_uk If you are concerned that your child may have a sign of retinoblastoma – a rare form of eye cancer – be sure to get your child’s eyes checked urgently just to be safe, and request a red reflex test is done. #chect #retinoblastoma #raisingawareness #kittyvisionuk ♬ Green Green Grass (Sped-Up) – George Ezra
I also had some fun while visiting! We made TikTok’s to spread awareness about Rb. In the first one, I took out my prosthetic eye with the caption “Tell me you’ve got retinoblastoma without telling me you’ve got retinoblastoma.” It was a funny way to bring attention to Rb. Then, I teamed up with Beth, the CHECT Creative & Operations Manager, and we did a dance to “Green, Green Grass.” After each move, we popped up facts about Rb on the screen. It was a cool and fun way to raise awareness.
Another special memory was when I entered the CHECT Christmas card competition. I designed a card with Pip the Penguin standing by a door with a stained-glass window above and the words “Merry Christmas.” It felt amazing to contribute to CHECT in my own way, and it’s nice knowing my design might bring a smile to someone’s face during the holidays.
So, this September, let’s shine a light on Childhood Cancer Awareness Month! Whether it’s making TikTok’s, designing cards, or just learning about how awesome CHECT is, we can all do something to help kids with Rb. Together, we can make a difference—one dance, one card, and one smile at a time! 💛🎗
@chect_uk #kittyvisionuk www.youtube.com/@kittyvisionuk #chect ♬ original sound – Childhood Eye Cancer Trust
A big thank you to Kitty for your great awareness-raising and interviewing skills!