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The Cure, Blossoms and more unveil exclusive merch range for cancer charity

Blossoms, Glass Animals and The Snuts have also designed and donated t-shirts

By Joe Goggins

The Cure pose for a press shot
The Cure. (Photo: Andy Vella)

The likes of The Cure, Blossoms and more have unveiled an exclusive line of merchandise to raise funds for a new cancer charity.

An initiative of the charity Trekstock, which provides support for young adults with cancer, Merch for Good will see the sale of a line of exclusive t-shirts, designed and donated by an impressive array of artists. Among those to have contributed to the first wave are The Cure, Glass Animals, Blossoms, The Snuts, Nothing But Thieves, The Damned, Simple Minds and Bullet for My Valentine.

Trekstock was founded in 2009 by Sophie Epstone, after she noticed a major lack of support for those fighting cancer in their 20s and 30s. It has gone on to offered tailored support to thousands of patients, with Merch for Good becoming a cornerstone of the charity’s fundraising. Past collaborators include Foals, CHVRCHES, Bon Iver, The National and Warpaint.

You can buy this year’s run of shirts here; they retail at £24.99 each, and are sustainably made to order. Also chipping in with exclusive designs are Yungblud, Ellie Goulding, The Chemical Brothers, Mel C, You Me At Six, Pale Waves, Cat Stevens, Jamie Campbell Bower, Keane, KT Tunstall, Jack Savoretti, Razorlight, Frank Carter and The Rattlesnakes, DJ Shadow, Don Broco and Lacuna Coil. T-shirts from these artist will be available later this month.

Among the initial run, The Cure become the first band to contribute two separate designs to the cause, with frontman Robert Smith issuing a rare statement. Trekstock is a great charity – I am delighted to be involved in their new Merch For Good Range,” he said. Blossoms’ design, meanwhile, features artwork from their new single ‘Ribbon Around the Bomb’, while the 34 smiley faces on The Snuts’ shirt symbolise the 34 young adults who are diagnosed with cancer in the UK every day. 

“As a small charity, we are always completely blown away by the level of support the music industry gives Trekstock,” said Epstone in a press release – she continues to serve as the charity’s CEO. “This special World Cancer Day collection is our biggest one to date and has the power to change lives. We could not be more grateful to all the artists and their teams who have donated their time and creativity to make a difference to the lives of those in their 20s or30s affected by cancer. We hope you love the designs as much as we do.”

Glass Animals frontman Dave Bayley added: “Many of the people I love most in the world have suffered from cancer. Physical problems aside, I have seen the psychological and social side effects surrounding it overwhelm them. If each t-shirt goes a little way towards helping someone find their footing, it’s a huge win.”