Words by Smiley Team
Stand Up To Cancer is encouraging the public to start their day with a positive mantra, as part of October’s Positive Attitude Month.
The charity wants to remind people to be proud of themselves – and for those with experience of cancer, to remind them of their personal strength.
Sean Swarner, an inspirational speaker, author and adventurer, is a two-time cancer survivor, with one functioning lung. He survived Hodgkin’s disease, aged 13, and Askin’s sarcoma at 16, but also conquered Mount Everest and completed the Seven Summits – the tallest peak on each continent.
It hasn’t stopped him travelling to the South Pole as well, amongst other athletic achievements.
(Read about the man who has cancer, who walked the length of Britain)
"If it wasn’t for cancer, I wouldn’t be where I am in life right now," he said. "It has offered me opportunities that wouldn’t have been available before. It’s been my choice to see cancer as an opportunity and not an obstacle.”
Sean is now a member of a Facebook group called “One Lungers Unite”, which is a digital community where people with limited respiratory function can interact.
Stand Up To Cancer works relentlessly to offer the newest, most effective, and most promising cancer treatments to patients quickly, by bringing together the best minds to collaborate, innovate, and share cancer research. One in two people in the UK will get cancer during their lifetime, with every pound raised dedicated to speeding up life-saving research.
Progress against one type of cancer is progress against all cancer, and the charity have set themselves the ambitious target of ensuring three in four people in the UK survive cancer by 2034.
From transforming radiotherapy into a precise, anti-cancer weapon, to developing new ways to stop cancer cells from spreading around the body, they are supporting 59 clinical trials and research projects that will help bring new treatments and technology to people with cancer – ultimately saving more lives.
(This young cancer patient celebrated treatment ending)
Additionally, on Friday 15 October, Channel 4 are hosting a glittering night of live TV, all to raise more funds.
Davina McCall, Maya Jama, Adam Hills and Alan Carr will host the star-studded evening of entertainment which runs from 7.30pm to 1.25am. Meanwhile, Joe Lycett will encourage the audience all night via his high-tech hub with help from his nationwide band of celebrity reporters.
To donate, you can visit the SU2C website here. Alternatively, to donate £30, £20 or £10, you can text thirty, twenty or ten to 70404.
