PRESS RELEASE
17th April 2015
CANCER SURVIVOR’S PLEA TO PARTY LEADERS
A cancer survivor from Lincolnshire is appealing to all party leaders to make sure that cancer treatment in the UK is higher up the political agenda and that the next Prime Minister thinks ‘creatively’ about how to fund it.
Amelia Bailey, 45 and a mental health nurse, has recently survived breast cancer and says that the most recent cuts to The Cancer Drug Fund are a major concern with the odds of developing cancer in this country currently standing at 1 in 2.
In a letter to David Cameron and the other six party leaders, Amelia says it is alarming that targeted waiting and treatment times for Cancer are being missed by significant amounts. She suggests that isn’t it time that ALL political parties unite together and make a sustained commitment to monetary investment and not financial cuts to the NHS and cancer research, medication and treatments.
She is also imploring each party to look beyond what might be their prized four years in government and see cancer treatment as a lifetime investment to save mankind in this lifetime.
Amelia said: “With the odds of 1 in 2 people developing cancer in their lifetime from Cancer Research UK, that’s roughly 33 million people currently alive in the UK today who will develop cancer. This is why I believe this issue should be further up the political agenda.
“Today’s government states it can no longer sustain the spending levels on cancer treatment, after promising £200m in 2011, it is already overspent at £280m. Could the next government invest for the future by creating the UK’s own NHS cancer research development and own drug company so we are not dependent on the private drug company’s price tags?
“Devastatingly these prices currently mean that the person holding the purse for patient care has to decide which patients get to live longer and which get to die sooner? The NHS is one of the UK finest assets and admired worldwide. We have some of the worlds’ finest, highly trained and dedicated Doctors and Nurses.
“Men, woman and children are on a daily basis, dying, fighting and surviving cancer. We already know that cancer treatment in this Country is a lottery, depending on where you live. Every week, approximately 32 million adults in the UK, spend around £5 on the lottery, with only a 1 in 14 million chance of winning the jackpot.
“With cancer, the odds are that every other person will develop it sometime in their lifetime. Just image, if for one week each month, those 32 million people gave their lotto money to finding a cure for cancer. That would create a potential income of over £100m each month, that’s a lot of money to help find a cure sooner.
“If our government and NHS are so cash strapped due to these austere times, perhaps we should be creative in our thinking and find other alternatives to help fund these essential life saving and life prolonging treatments? Perhaps a Cancer Fund Lottery which would help fund research, so that one day, our children can grow up in a world without cancer, that way everyone wins the jackpot.”
Amelia, who describes herself as an ordinary working Mum, started an extraordinary group called ‘The Cancer Fighters’ after she and her three sisters and had separate experiences of cancer and she wanted to do something positive to help fight this unrelenting disease.
‘The Cancer Fighters’ are now a group of 18 strong ladies from Lincolnshire and all of our lives have all been affected by cancer in one way or another. They self released a fundraising single in aid of Cancer Research UK which was launched on World Cancer Day in February. The charity single, called “We’re in the Mood”, is an adapted version of the Nolan’s classic hit “I’m in the Mood for Dancing” and has been supported by the original songwriters Ben Findon, Mike Myers and Robert Puzey. All three have waived the royalties so that all profits go to Cancer Research UK. Amelia rewrote the words of the song and they now focus on fighting cancer and racing for life.
Amelia said: “Our song is our way of highlighting the importance of cancer awareness, cancer treatment, cancer research and investment in the NHS but in an upbeat, inspiring and positive manner. We are grateful to have been treated by the NHS when we had cancer as it saved our lives. Continued investment in the NHS is essential and all political parties should agree this has to be at the top of their priority list for investment.“
‘The Cancer Fighters’ have a large number of celebrities supporting our cause including Sharon Osbourne, Russell Brand, John Bishop, Perry Fenwick, Amanda Holden, Philip Schofield, Lorraine Kelly and players from the England football team, for more information and to listen to our song, please visit our website: www.thecancerfighters.co.uk
-ENDS-
For further information, contact:
Sharron Ashurst, PR Consultant to The Cancer Fighters on: 07775 801471 or email: sharron@sharronashurst.com
NOTES TO EDITORS:
Photo captions:
Picture 1 - Ladies from 'The Cancer Fighters' wearing body paint to highlight the fight against cancer and the impact it has on lives. L-R: Amelia Bailey, representing SURVIVING cancer; Debbie Tolley (who lost her Dad when he was 28 to cancer), representing FIGHTING cancer and Karen Courtney (who has had repeated episodes of cancer and is receiving treatment) representing DYING of cancer.
Picture 2 - 'The Cancer Fighters' with Amelia Bailey pictured front centre. Three of the ladies wearing body paint to highlight the fight against cancer and the impact it has on lives.
Picture 3 - Celebrity Russell Brand, just one of the many famous faces who have supported 'The Cancer Fighters' by taking a selfie in their fundraising t-shirts.