Hassocks station team support community efforts to raise awareness of childhood cancer

Hassocks train station staff are backing a campaign to raise awareness of childhood cancer in honour of a local girl whose life was tragically taken by the disease.

After being diagnosed at the age of nine, Pearl Dixie BartlettBundy stoically fought the rare and aggressive form of bone cancer, Ewing’s Sarcoma. She underwent both radiotherapy and the most aggressive form of chemotherapy possible to endure, doing her best to maintain a sense of humour throughout.

Pearl died in 2017 aged 10, but her parents are determined to raise awareness of childhood cancer and see more funding invested in research. They have got behind the Glow Gold September Campaign, in support of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, and have been decorating the entire village of Hassocks with large gold ribbons, including the train station.

Hassocks Station Manager Paddy Hawksworth, 37, who grew up in the Haywards Heath area, said: “When we heard about the campaign, we thought it was something we would love to support. I have two young kids and so raising awareness of this cause resonates with me. I can’t begin to imagine how devastating it must be for parents whose children are battling cancer or those who have lost children to cancer. We wanted to display a ribbon to show support to Pearl’s family and solidarity with the Hassocks community.”

Hassocks station Salespoint Assistant Craig Harwood, 27, added: “The ribbon is the first thing you see when you approach the ticket office. It’s taken pride of place. We’re proud to show our support for the local community.”

All the profits from the sponsorship of the ribbons is going to the Childhood Cancer and Leukaemia Group to fund research into children’s cancer.

Pearl’s mum Rachel BartlettBundy said: “It’s fantastic to see the ribbon up at the station. I’m so glad the community has got involved. Everyone has been so incredible. The station is a real focal point in the community, and when people go to get a train or buy a ticket, the ribbon is there.”

Rachel has also started a petition calling for more funding to be allocated to research into childhood cancer. She said: “I find it shocking that so little of the money raised for cancer charities goes to research into childhood cancer. Forty per cent of charity adverts have children in, but it’s staggering that worldwide, less than 3% goes into that area of research.”

To view the petition, visit http://chng.it/RkQwznRx5N

ENDS