08 July 2024 •
[Monday 8 July 2024] Local rail operator Trenitalia c2c, is proud to be supporting local children’s cancer charity, Gold Geese’s first ‘Goslings’ seafront event, to raise vital funds for local families facing childhood cancer.
The ‘Gold Geese Goslings’ seafront event will take place on Sunday 21st July and start on the beach by Chalkwell station. Children up to the age of 16 are encouraged to ‘scoot, cycle, run or walk’ the course, available as a one mile stretch for children aged 10 and under, and 2 miles for over 11s.
Gold Geese provides tailored support for families fighting childhood cancer in south east Essex, offering mental health therapy, treats, respite trips, help with hospital transport and food bills, and bereavement support.
With dozens of families set to take part, c2c is proud to be supporting the charity’s first Gold Geese Goslings event, providing event t-shirts for participants, with the c2c team set to be on hand at Chalkwell station to help direct the Goslings to the start line.
c2c is also offering all participating children a free train journey home after the fundraiser; participants just need to be wearing their Gold Geese t-shirt as their ‘ticket’ to travel.
Katie Southgate, Founder and CEO of Gold Geese, said, “We’re very grateful to c2c for sponsoring our Goslings event and very kindly arranging free train travel home for the children taking part. This is our first seafront fundraiser and we hope to have lots of Goslings join us on the day, have fun and show their support for local children fighting cancer.
“Around 1,900 children are diagnosed with cancer every year, and it causes a huge upheaval for everyone in the family – emotionally, physically and often financially, and Gold Geese is there every step of the way for local families affected. Our slogan is ‘We Fly Together’, because geese are a team and no one is left behind. As we receive no government funding, we rely on community donations and events like this to fund our vital work,” she added.
Rob Mullen, Managing Director of c2c, “Gold Geese does incredible work in our local communities, so I’m delighted we’re supporting the first Goslings event in Southend as part of the charity’s fundraising efforts. We invite all participating children to enjoy a free train ride home with us after the event, just make sure you’re wearing your t-shirt with pride; you never know, you might even get to travel on the Gold Geese train!”
The East London and south Essex rail operator has supported Gold Geese for a number of years, participating in fundraising initiatives and awareness campaigns. In September 2022, c2c and Gold Geese proudly unveiled a special gold ‘wrapped’ c2c train emblazoned with the charity’s slogan, ‘We Fly Together,’ to help raise awareness for the organisation’s work supporting local families in the Southend and wider south east Essex area impacted by childhood cancer.
Between September 2022 and February 2024, the Gold Geese train travelled more than 140,000 miles on the c2c network – that’s nearly six times around the world! – carrying over 46 million passengers in the process.
Each child taking part in the Goslings event will receive a goody bag, Gold Geese t-shirt and medal. There is no entrance fee but the charity is asking families to fundraise as much as possible to cover costs.
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS
About c2c
· c2c is the award-winning train operator running services between Fenchurch Street and Shoeburyness, serving 26 stations in East London and South Essex.
· Owned by Trenitalia, c2c is one of the UK’s most punctual and popular train operators and nearly 34 million journeys are made on its services every year.
· Italian-based Trenitalia is one of Europe’s leading rail operators and the passenger rail arm of FS Italiane Group.
· c2c and Gold Geese unveil wrapped train, September 2022: https://www.c2c-online.co.uk/media-centre/latest-news/local-charity-gold-geese-calls-on-essex-to-go-gold-for-childhood-cancer-this-september/
· c2c and Gold Geese mark International Childhood Cancer Day, February 2024: https://www.c2c-online.co.uk/media-centre/latest-news/c2cs-gold-geese-train-travels-the-equivalent-of-six-times-around-the-world-raising-awareness-of-childhood-cancer/
· For more information email mediaenquiries@c2crail.net
About Gold Geese:
1. As well as offering families support, Gold Geese also raises awareness of childhood cancer signs and symptoms, including delivering training workshops to childcare practitioners and parents.
2. Gold Geese receives no Government funding and relies on community donations for its work.
3. The charity was founded by Katie Southgate in 2018, following her child’s cancer diagnosis. Understanding the impact of a diagnosis, Katie set up the charity to help other local families in the same situation. Her child is now cancer-free.
4. Our slogan is We Fly Together, because Geese are a team and no one is left behind. #weflytogether #goldgeese
5. Contact us at www.goldgeese.org; facebook.com/goldgeesecharity; instagram.com/goldgeese
For more information contact, Krystyna La Roche
About childhood cancer [taken from www.cancerresearchuk.org.uk]
1. Children’s cancer is much less common than adult cancer.
2. In the UK around 1,900 children (aged 0 – 14 years) get diagnosed with cancer each year. This number includes non cancerous (benign) brain tumours.
3. Children develop different types of cancers than adults but they often have the same types of treatments.
4. Cancer symptoms can be similar to those of other childhood illnesses. For signs and symptoms visit www.goldgeese.org.
5. If you have any concerns about your child’s health contact your doctor. Gold Geese staff are not medically trained.