The Who’s Roger Daltrey recently said that he thinks that the health of animals is given more attention than children with cancer. The claim was a reaction to his difficulties in getting the public to donate to his Teenage Cancer Trust Foundation. “It is a blot on our society when, if these teenagers had four legs and fur or feathers we would raise the money in a year,” Daltrey said. “It’s tragic and it makes me want to fight even harder.”
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), have spoken out against the singer by claiming both their causes are linked. “Daltrey’s heart seems closed not only to the idea of the importance of kindness to animals but the common sense realization that helping animals avoid the slaughterhouse by going vegetarian greatly reduces the chance of colon, breast and other forms of cancer, as well as heart disease,” PETA’s president and cofounder Ingrid Newkirk told WENN. “Of course, we have the capacity to care for more than one species and one problem at a time, but if people want to put all their money into cancer research PETA has a list of cancer charities which use 21st Century research methods instead of clinging to old fashioned animal tests.”
Last month, Daltrey announced a series of charity concerts at London’s Royal Albert Hall to benefit his Teenage Cancer Trust Foundation. The shows kick off on March 24, and feature Stereophonics, Kasabian, Antony and the Johnsons, and many more bands.