PEOPLE across Dorset are being urged to back a new Cancer Research UK fundraising campaign, as new figures show that cancer deaths in children and young people have fallen by 58 per cent in the UK in the past 40 years.

Progress in treating the disease has led to this unprecedented drop among youngsters aged 24 and under, with around 1,300 deaths each year in the mid-1970s falling to around 550 today.

The steepest decline was in leukaemia, where the average number of deaths dropped by 39 per cent in the past 10 years, falling from around 180 deaths each year to around 110.

The new figures are announced as the charity launches Cancer Research UK Kids & Teens – a new fundraising campaign with an ongoing mission to accelerate research into kinder treatments and cures for children, teens and young adults with cancer.

And the charity is calling on people across the South West to donate to help beat childhood cancers sooner, because despite improvements, the disease remains the biggest killer of youngsters in the UK.

The new campaign was launched with the backing of Samantha Cameron at 10 Downing St.

Helen Johnstone, Cancer Research UK spokesperson for the South West, said: “It’s hugely encouraging to see the death toll for children’s cancers falling steadily, but we must make faster progress to save more lives.”

Every year, around 1,600 children aged 14 and under are diagnosed with cancer in the UK – around 130 of them in the South West. And a further 2,200 15-24 year olds are also diagnosed with cancer in the UK annually.

Thanks to the generosity of its supporters Cancer Research UK has helped to transform the outlook for children with cancer. Three-quarters of under-15s with the disease are now cured compared to only a quarter in the late 1960s.

However, survival is significantly lower in teenagers and young adults than in children for several cancer types.

Helen added: “Cancer has a devastating impact on youngsters. Children and young people can face months of painful treatment, as well as the upset of being away from home and friends. Also, some unfortunately face living with long term side effects from their treatment, such as infertility and disability, which have an impact throughout their adult lives.

“Sadly, not every youngster survives but we continue to fight for every child and every family and hope to double the amount we spend on children’s and young people’s cancers in the next 5-10 years.

By boosting funding now, the best research teams could offer new hope by developing kinder and better treatments and cures, so we’re urging people across the region to back Cancer Research UK Kids & Teens.

“Cancer Research UK is the largest funder of research into children’s cancers in the UK and with the support of the public we can fund more world-class research to give more youngsters the chance to grow up and realise their potential.”

To support Cancer Research UK Kids & Teens text KIDS3 to 70200 to donate £37 or for more information about the campaign visit cruk.org/kidsandteens