A bereaved mum whose daughter died at the age of 10 has praised the government for renewing a child cancer taskforce.
Charlotte Fairall's daughter Sophie sadly died in September 2021 after she was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare type of cancer.
Since Sophie’s death, Charlotte - who is from Stubbington - founded children’s cancer charity, Sophie’s Legacy and has been working alongside Gosport MP Dame Caroline Dinenage to introduce changes to children's cancer services.
The Department of Health and Social Care’s Children and Young People Cancer Taskforce was the result of three years of tireless campaigning by Dame Caroline and Charlotte Fairall.
The taskforce was first established in February 2024, but its activities were paused in September.
The Department of Health and Social Care has now confirmed that the Children and Young People Cancer Taskforce will be resume its vital work, which has been met with praise by Charlotte.
Charlotte Fairall, said: “Sophie’s Legacy welcomes the government’s relaunch of the Children and Young People’s Cancer Taskforce as a vital step towards improving outcomes for young cancer patients across the UK.
“Too many children and young people face devastating delays in diagnosis, limited treatment options, and a lack of tailored support during and after their cancer journey.
"Sophie’s Legacy has worked tirelessly for over three years with the government to create change for children and young people with cancer.
“We urge the government to ensure this taskforce delivers meaningful action—faster diagnosis, better treatments, and dedicated support services for children, young people, and their families. We look forward to working collaboratively with policymakers, healthcare professionals, and other charities to turn promises into progress.
“Every child deserves the best possible chance at life. Let’s make this relaunch count.”
Read more: Mum Charlotte Fairall honoured with Point of Light award
In January 2022 Caroline raised the matter in Prime Minister’s Questions and in April 2022 she secured the first ever childhood cancer debate in the House of Commons.
However, a government response in September to a Written Question (UIN 2283) posed by Caroline signalled the government’s intention to pause the work of the Taskforce, prompting parents of children with cancer to describe their response to the decision as “deeply disturbed”.
Read more: Mum helps create Government child cancer taskforce in daughter's memory
A National Cancer Plan to be published this year will set out targeted actions to reduce lives lost to one of the biggest killers, continue improving survival rates, and improve the experience of patients along their cancer journey.
It will also include specific actions for rarer cancers such as those affecting children.
The taskforce will support this work, with the MP and Professor Darren Hargrave appointed as its co-chairs, alongside Dr Sharna Shanmugavadivel as vice-chair.
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