A Salford mum is hoping to raise awareness for childhood cancer with her decision to illuminate Salford Civic Centre gold tonight.
Like many other illnesses, childhood cancer has a dedicated coloured ribbon which people wear to show their support. However, proud Salford mother, Jenny Huddart, is choosing to take a bigger step and illuminate one of Salford’s most recognisable landmarks gold, this evening.
Residents of Salford are invited to visit the Civic Centre to show their support for childhood cancer. The illumination is taking place at 7-10pm tonight (September 30).
After Jenny’s daughter was diagnosed with stage four Neuroblastoma cancer at just 15 months old, she is now more determined than ever to make a difference and spread awareness about the illness.
She hopes to spread the word across not just Greater Manchester but nationally.
Her daughter is now four-years-old and currently shows no signs of disease. But there was once a time where her family felt hopeless.
She said: “I remember being that parent in the midst of treatment and just putting in support groups, ‘please show me hope that children survive this’.
Jenny was supported with an army of other parents who had reached the light at the end of the tunnel, when she needed it the most. Now, she’s the one supporting other families seeking advice.
The brave young girl, Harper, has a page on Facebook and Instagram called ‘Harper’s Army’. Jenny posts regular updates sharing how Harper is doing as well sharing awareness for childhood cancer.
A fact which some people are unaware of is that children with cancer are treated with the same aggressive form of chemotherapy which adults battling cancer are also treated with.
Jenny says how there is “no calpol for cancer”, a phrase which she recently came across and very much resonates.
She said: “I do find it difficult at times because it’s a really tough thing to have been through, but then I look at Harper and I see that she’s been through chemotherapy and radiotherapy and everything else
“I just think, I see little breakthroughs that we get like the Civic Centre being lit up gold. So, now we’ve got that, it’s just building on it.”
Harper will now no longer be able to have children because of the chemotherapy, as well as being deaf and wearing glasses due to the treatment she received during her battle with Neuroblastoma.
Jenny is the newly founder of Project Golden Child- created to share continued awareness. She is hoping to see a great turnout on the night of the illumination, with the plan to play a reel of other children from Manchester Children’s Hospital who are just as strong as Harper.
Jenny said: “Seeing how all the children that we’ve meet on the ward, like, some of the families have become friends of mine and you never expect to get thrown into this world.
“Honestly the children that fight, to me they’re superheroes.”
Salford City Council have shared their support for tonight.
A shared post says, “Tonight Salford Civic Centre will be lit gold as we show our support for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
“This campaign takes place every September to support families affected by childhood cancer, highlight the importance of early diagnosis and treatments, and to recognise all the children who have fought, or are currently fighting, cancer.
Every day in the UK, 10 children and young people will receive the devastating news that they have cancer.”
Harper’s primary school took part in a ‘wear gold day’ this week to raise money for the Macmillan charity and to show their continued support. Jenny is encouraging other school’s and people to get involved to also share their support for childhood cancer.
The Salford Civic Centre illumination in Swinton from 7-10 pm tonight is the start of something much bigger.
You can follow Harper’s journey here.
