Rachel Daly Joins Cure Leukaemia as new ambassador during Blood Cancer Awareness Month
Aston Villa Women player and England international Rachel Daly has become an ambassador for Cure Leukaemia, the nation's blood cancer charity.
The announcement comes during what is Blood Cancer Awareness Month, a time in which raising awareness of the illness is naturally vital and with stories of what patients have to go through highlighted, as well as the work done by the charity.
"I am honoured to become an Ambassador for Cure Leukaemia, a charity doing such incredible work to help blood cancer patients, not only in Birmingham but across the UK," Daly said.
"During Blood Cancer Awareness Month, I’m especially reminded of how vital it is to fund Research Nurses who work tirelessly to give patients access to life-saving treatments. It’s a cause close to my heart as my grandma has leukaemia, and I’m proud to use my platform to raise awareness and help drive positive change."
The charity's CEO James McLaughlin is who is running the Birmingham leg of the "Run The Nations" campaign today. The initiative aims to raise £100,000 to fund two Research Nurses, whose roles are vital in delivering clinical trials to patients who have not responded well to standard of care treatments.
McLaughlin added of Daly coming on board as an ambassador: "We are thrilled that Rachel has become an ambassador for us. When we met earlier in the year at our Copa Del CL football event, Rachel immediately wanted to know more about Cure Leukaemia and was keen to want to help us in whatever way she can. With so many footballers and supporters touched by this horrible and indiscriminate disease it’s great that Rachel has officially signed up to support us.”
Cure Leukaemia funds the Trials Acceleration Programme (TAP) network of specialist research nurses who connect patients to pioneering treatments. This network doesn’t currently exist for children, and later this month, Cure Leukaemia will be announcing the ten hospitals which will form the UK’s first Paediatric Transplant Trials Network, as we look to improve the lives of children with blood cancer across the UK.
Every penny raised helps provide hope to those affected by blood cancer, and with Rachel Daly lending her voice, Cure Leukaemia looks forward to making an even greater impact in the months and years ahead.
For more information about Cure Leukaemia’s work and how you can get involved, please click here.