MP Asks Salisbury School Children to SSSHHhhh!

Robert Key MP will join pupils at Salisbury Cathedral School in a sponsored silence on Friday 28 January 2005. The sponsored silence, or Big Hush as it is better known, is organised by Macmillan Cancer Relief, and forms part of their annual Cancertalk Week, 24 to 28 January 2005.

Macmillan is encouraging schools all over the county to keep quiet for at least ten minutes and raise money to help people living with cancer. In 2004, The Big Hush raised over £395,000, from the 6,000 schools and groups across the UK that took part.

The week-long initiative provides schools with an opportunity to talk about cancer and take part in classroom activities to help increase awareness and reduce the fear surrounding cancer. Macmillan hopes that by increasing awareness of cancer and dispelling some of the myths surrounding it, children and young people will be better equipped to understand the disease and learn how to support those with symptoms.

Money raised from The Big Hush will help Macmillan support children and their families affected by cancer all over the country through Macmillan nurses and doctors, treatment centres, cancer information and financial help for those who need it most.

Robert Key MP, said, “Cancertalk Week and The Big Hush are excellent and imaginative ways to bring attention to an important subject that will affect so many pupils, parents and teachers, and I am delighted to be involved for a second year. At present, over one million people are living with cancer in the UK, yet Macmillan Cancer Relief can only be there for 1 in 5 of them. Everyone can help improve this figure by supporting Macmillan Cancer Relief.”