The Merseyside Cancer Care Charity, Liverpool Sunflowers is celebrating National Cancer Survivors on 7th June by launching a new type of social media campaign across Merseyside featuring #survivorselfies.

“Not another selfie campaign” we hear you cry!

But this is an awareness campaign with a twist…

The charity is encouraging cancer survivors across Merseyside to post a #survivorselfie celebrating their having beating cancer, with the aim of promoting a simple message of hope about cancer and letting more people know about the free support available to anyone affected by a cancer diagnosis through Liverpool Sunflowers.

National Cancer Survivors Day – now in its 28th year – is a celebration for all those who have beaten cancer, an inspiration for those who have recently been diagnosed, and chance to build a strong local community in support of the fight against it.

It’s also a reminder that a cancer diagnosis is no longer the automatic death sentence that it once was.

With research and treatments improving all the time, many people diagnosed with cancer now make a full recovery, and go on to live long and healthy lives.

Emma Squibb, Chief Executive of Liverpool Sunflowers explains more:

“There’s no doubt been a huge amount of money raised for charity through social media recently. For example, last year Cancer Research UK made over £8m with the #nomakeupselfie, and who can forget the ALS #icebucket challenge which raised a huge amount of money and awareness for the illness globally?

“But although a lot of money and awareness has been raised for a lot of good causes, it’s true that the smaller charities which do vital work in our communities, don’t usually benefit from this sort of exposure.

“At Liverpool Sunflowers we are a small, locally based charity which offers support to anyone in Liverpool affected by a diagnosis of cancer. We’ve been operating for over 30 years, but like all small charities, have struggled increasingly since the economic downturn and recent public funding cuts.”

She adds:

“So this year, during National Cancer Survivors Day we want all local cancer survivors to join with us in posting their #survivorselfie on Twitter to @LivSunflowers or onto the Liverpool Sunflowers Facebook page to help raise awareness for this simple message of hope.

“We also want to encourage members of the local community to consider making a small donation to show their support for local people living with cancer, because even very small donations make a huge difference to small charities like ours.”

To make an online donation you can visit: www.liverpoolsunflowers.com or text free of cost to SUNF10 with the amount you wish to donate eg ‘SUNF10 £1.

Every penny of donations received will be directly invested into the provision of support services for local people living with cancer and their families here in Liverpool.

Examples of how your money could make a difference include:

• £2 pays for 3 days of milk to provide free tea and coffee to people using the drop in centre, where they can access support advice and a listening ear.

• £15 buys an extra thick exercise mat so a cancer patient can take part in free Yoga or Pilates classes

• £25 buys enough oils for therapists to deliver massage or reflexology sessions to 100 cancer patients

• £100 pays for six cancer patients to receive and hour of counselling

• £500 funds a cancer support group for a year.

Lorna Wilson, a cancer survivor from Wirral who is taking part in the campaign says:

“When I was first told that I had cancer, I felt devastated. I couldn’t help but panic, not only for my own future, but also for my then one year old baby boy.

“Here in Liverpool I think we are incredibly lucky to have a service like Liverpool Sunflower which plays a vitally important role in supporting people like me to face cancer with hope.

“Whilst hospitals provide fantastic medical care to cancer patients, often something that is missing is the emotional and practical support to help people deal with the diagnosis, treatment and recovery process – and the friendly team of volunteers at Liverpool Sunflower really do meet this need.

“That’s why I’m backing their #surviorselfie campaign and encouraging all my family and friends to do the same.”

She adds:

“Thankfully almost two years down the road I can say I am now in remission. Whilst there are still days when the effects of cancer are very much a part of my life, I know I am one of the lucky ones and I am so grateful.”

Liverpool Sunflowers Cancer Care provides a range of services which are free to access for anyone affected by a cancer diagnosis in Merseyside, including patients, survivors, and family members.

This includes guidance and advisory services, one-to-one counselling, alternative therapies that compliment NHS treatments, activity classes such as art therapy, pilates and yoga, and group support sessions delivered in a safe, welcoming and non-judgemental environment.

It also operates a successful drop-in centre, offering practical advice and a listening over a cup of tea.

Based at the Sunflowers Centre at 21 Aigburth Road, this drop-in is open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays between 10.00am – 4.00pm. No appointment needed.

For more information, visit: www.liverpoolsunflowers.com