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  • 5 hours ago
GOSH Charity has unveiled three sculptures at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park woven from replica chemotherapy wires to represent the childhood moments stolen from the 1,900 children diagnosed with cancer in the UK annually. With cases of cancer in children up 11% since the early 2000s, the installation highlights that children under five now make up nearly half of all new childhood cancer diagnoses and one-third of all childhood cancer deaths in the UK. Each statue has a concealed motion-triggered audio element, meaning children’s real stories are told in their own voices.

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00:04She just wanted to be two but she wasn't, she was just sick. She missed out on just being a
00:11child, just being able to come to a park and just be on the swing, on the slide. Behind me
00:17we have
00:18three life-size sculptures of children which has been woven in replica chemotherapy wire. We really
00:25wanted to demonstrate the urgent that is how many children are diagnosed with cancer. Two weeks
00:31after her second birthday we found out that she's got a massive lump in her stomach. It was horrific,
00:38overwhelming and like basically a life-changing experience. Frank was lethargic for three weeks,
00:47so he ended up at the hospital where he had a CT scan which found his brain tumour. This guy
00:54was
00:54diagnosed when she was 16 months old. She started to become a bit sort of wobbly, she was struggling
01:00to be able to sit down and she had an MRI scan and they noticed a mass on her brain.
01:07The biopsy
01:07showed that she needed to go to GOSH for specialist treatment. This guy missed out on quite a lot of
01:11early childhood sort of normal moments, things like soft plays, going to the park, just interacting with
01:17the children. Seeing these sculptures is incredible, it's actually really sort of poignant looking at
01:22them and it makes you kind of realise all those moments that this guy missed. It's really emotional
01:27seeing them. You're quite isolated when you're in hospital and GOSH Charity is amazing, they've done a
01:33lot for us. I think the play teams especially as well, they give the extra support when you're in
01:38hospital. They make great relationships with the children, playing with them in the rooms or if
01:44they're able to go into the play areas. And even for us, you know, being able to have that little
01:49bit
01:49of time to have a breather, but knowing they're well looked after, I think GOSH provides all of that for
01:54you.
01:56Without the support of the charity and obviously the hospital, you know, this guy wouldn't be here.
02:00I mean they saved Frank's life, just so grateful to everyone.
02:03Frank ruined their debt really.
02:04We need more people to support us to build the new Children's Cancer Centre so that more
02:09children have the best chance and childhood possible.
02:12people.
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