Having kids affects how you interact with the world in so many ways. When pregnant I went from rarely noticing babies or young families, to seeing them everywhere. Your eyes are opened to a whole new part of life, new communities of people who were previously off-radar, and enjoyment in things you thought you’d long outgrown.
Then are the things you don’t want to see anymore. The most obvious for me was the news, with its stories about children that make you well-up or feel physically sick; telethons suddenly aren’t easy viewing as I sob through the films, and TV dramas pack a whole new punch. It may be happening to a distant ‘other’, but those of us in more fortunate situations are no more deserving of it than anyone else, and it could still yet happen to us. I know this, and think we all do, in our heart of hearts.
Many parents have the luxury of not needing to go there, mentally. It’s too much, we’re too busy, we all have a lot on our plates. Until, that is, we have to, when it’s close, or simply too close for comfort and we count our blessings and ‘put things in perspective’. Because we can.
If you live in or around Chester, you have probably heard by now about Anya Bentham. Her name is echoing around the city walls, on posters, at events, in schools, and on the radio.
Anya is two and has neuroblastoma. She is one of just a small number of children in the UK with this aggressive form of cancer. She is from a village along from where I live, and is being treated at Alder Hey. She has a chance of a treatment in the USA, which is not currently available on the NHS. It’s expensive. Very expensive. But her family want to give her every chance they can.
Her case is the very epitome of the kind of place most parents don’t want to mentally go. It’s cruel and it’s painful, and her parents are asking someone, anyone to help find the money to try and save their daughter. Wouldn’t we all?
They need to raise £250,000. They are working hard but still have a way to go. If you can give anything, from £1 to the remaining £90,000, the link is below.
Thank you.
https://www.justgiving.com/appeal4anya/
You can also text donations: text “Anya 99 ” plus ” £2″, “£3″, “£4″, “£5″ or “£10″ to 70070
The Anya Bentham Appeal is being run by the Neuroblastoma Children’s Cancer Alliance. A registered charity no 1135601 http://www.childrenscancer.org.uk
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