See It Treat It Appeal: Bringing Sheffield together against cancer | OneFootball

This Sunday is a time for sporting division. Bramall Lane is the chosen battleground for another Steel City Derby between the red-and-white and blue-and-white sides of Sheffield.

Away from the pitch though is an opportunity for our great city to come together. As it often does when the time calls for it.

The upcoming Steel City Derby is sponsored by Weston Park Cancer Charity meaning their “See it, Treat It Appeal” will be front and centre when you arrive for the midday kickoff.

I spoke to the charity’s Marketing Manager Emily Benson to learn more about the campaign. To understand why showing our support on Sunday is so crucial.

The See It Treat It Appeal

Weston Park fundraisers at Bramall Lane. Image from: Weston Park Cancer Charity

The Steel City Derby push for the See It Treat It Appeal is continuing the great work of last year’s Charity Bash which raised nearly £300,000. Through fundraising at the match and match funding from Westfield Health.

The appeal launched last May has reached £1.4 million in donations by January of this year through additional fundraising. As the charity closes in on their £1.85 million target. With the aim of bringing an MRI simulator cancer scanning machine to Sheffield.

Emily, on the machine, said: This is a breakthrough piece of equipment and it will allow the hospital staff and the doctors to see cancer tumours more clearly and be able to treat them more precisely. It means that the area around the tumour won’t be as affected.

“This should Improve patient outcomes and reduce side effects and then hopefully increase cancer survival rates. So it’s an amazing piece of equipment. They’ve got one in Leeds, they’ve got one in Manchester and other areas of the UK, but we don’t have one in Sheffield.”

The importance of the machine is huge for local treatment and helping patients.

Emily said: “The improved targeting of the treatment means that there’ll be fewer side effects for patients, which is incredible, but also fewer hospital visits.

“For some patients, for some who have certain cancers, it could reduce the number of hospital treatments from 20 down to five.”

The importance of the Steel City Derby

The Steel City Derby is now the next event on the horizon to raise further donations towards the fundraising goal. The help from both sets of supporters could be crucial.

Emily said: “The opportunity to be in front of all the fans on Sunday and spread awareness is really important and hopefully we raise some money towards the campaign.

“Ultimately, this piece of equipment is probably going to be helping them, their friends, and their family in the future. So we really want to make the most of these opportunities.

“Sheffield United have been such amazing supporters of the campaign. Chris and Fran Wilder are huge advocates for the campaign and are really supporting us.”

The Charity’s Role in Sheffield

The Weston Park Cancer Charity has been supporting patients and families for the last three decades. Playing an integral role in helping the people of Sheffield during uncertain times for everyone impacted by a cancer diagnosis.

There is a wide range of support the charity provides including emotional support, welfare support, financial and legal support. As well as in many other areas.

Emily said: “We provide everything and above that the NHS does at the hospital.

“We provide free transport to hospital appointments from all around the region. If people live outside of Sheffield City Centre, and they don’t drive or they don’t have finances to travel.

“We have a big purple bus out, spreading awareness and providing support directly in local communities. We have massages and complimentary therapies for people to help ease pain and side effects.

“We have so many support services based in Sheffield for patients, but we also fund cancer research. We also enhance treatment through campaigns like this appeal to bring the piece of equipment to Weston Park.”

Emily added “If anybody has received a cancer diagnosis, or even if you are supporting someone, so maybe a family member or a loved one, we can definitely help you during this time. Check us out on social media, on the website, or give us a call, and we’ll be able to help.”

More than just a Derby

As you can see the Weston Park Cancer Charity complete essential work to support patients and their loved ones through difficult times. There will be fundraisers around Bramall Lane on Sunday. So, if you want to and are able to spare a donation make sure to speak to one of their team.

It’s important that during a time such as the Steel City Derby we can use the rivalry for some good and come together to support a charity whose work will likely impact all of us at some point in our lives.

If you have received a cancer diagnosis or are supporting a loved one who has, you can call the charity on 0114 553 3330. Or head to their website at https://www.westonpark.org.uk/contact.