Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi will attend a cancer event in his hometown of Birmingham, UK on Wednesday.
The event at the city’s Bullring Shopping Centre outside Debenham’s at 10:30 AM on August 26 is designed to bring awareness to Macmillan Cancer Support's "Not Alone" Isolation Box, which highlights the plight of lonely cancer patients in the UK.
The experiential box, which allows people outside to see in but stops the person inside seeing out, aims to evoke the same feelings of loneliness and isolation many cancer patients experience after a diagnosis.
Iommi was diagnosed with blood cancer lymphoma in January of 2012 and has been in an out of treatment for the health issue in the past few years while managing to both record and perform a world tour in support of Black Sabbath’s 2013 album, “13.”
New figures released by Macmillan Cancer Support reveal an estimated 550,000 people in the UK — 22% of those living with cancer — suffer with loneliness as a result of their cancer.
Research also reveals the devastating impact that loneliness can have on people's lives, with many forced to skip meals or attend vital appointments alone. At worst, this can result in patients refusing treatment altogether. Of those who are lonely, almost half (47%) feel this way despite having as much social contact as they want and more than half (56%) are married or have a partner, showing that loneliness can affect even those surrounded by family and loved ones.
To learn more and/or to donate, visit macmillan.org.uk
Iommi and Black Sabbath plan to launch their farewell world tour in 2016.
See also:
Black Sabbath drummer still wants to reunite for farewell tour
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Black Sabbath: Tony Iommi launches signature guitar
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