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JOSH'S STORY
In February of 2021, Josh’s parents noticed he was getting very pale. What was originally thought to...
Read MoreA local woman has launched an innovative new campaign to help fight Childhood Cancer.
Emi Lou Howe, from Helsby, decided to launch the creative ‘Pants Hats Project’ to raise vital funds for children’s cancer research charity, Kidscan.
Inspired by her then one-year-old daughter’s love of wearing her brother’s pants on her head, Emi Lou decided to write a fun story on the subject and raise money in the process. Her first illustrated book, ‘Pants Hats,’ set in a hospital, follows the story of very different characters who like wearing pants rather unconventionally on their heads.
After losing her father to the disease when she was 24, Emi Lou has been a long time fundraiser for Cancer Research. Having children of her own resulted in her being drawn to children’s cancer charities, with Kidscan standing out as the only children-specific cancer research charity in the UK.
Just two months into the Pants Hats project, Emi Lou herself was diagnosed with cancer, allowing her to relate to sufferers all the more.
Speaking on the diagnosis, Emi Lou said: “It was just so strange being diagnosed with cancer.
“It set the project back for a while, without a doubt, but part of me thought, maybe there’s a reason for this.
“Originally the book had been set in the home but following my experience I decided to set it in a hospital, with the message that you can have fun in a hospital. I’ve been over a hundred times, so I know it’s true! And of course now I know how it feels to go through cancer, to lose all your hair, to have that experience. I can really relate to the cause.”
The book, which was created with a creative mixture of paint, fabric, texture and graphic design, will be produced using Amazon’s new Create Space print-on-demand publishing arm.
On the book, Emi Lou added: “I feel very happy with the result, I wouldn’t like to guess how many hours it has taken in trial and error! But the result is just what I was looking for: quirky, colourful and most importantly fun!”
Lowri Turner, Fundraising Manager at Kidscan, said: “It’s hard to put into words how amazed we are by Emi’s unwavering enthusiasm and commitment to supporting Kidscan.
“Both she and the ‘Pants Hats’ book are absolutely incredible, and we hope that everyone enjoys reading it as much as we do.
“We receive no statutory funding and people like Emi help us to ensure that childhood cancer suffers not only survive, but thrive in their future lives.”
The book will be launched in the last week of August, ready for September – International Children’s Cancer Month. Launch readings will be going ahead to kick off the #PantsHatsSelfie campaign urging people to:
- Buy the Pants Hats book
- Put a Pants Hats photo onto social media and
- Nominate someone else to do the same.