Teenage Cancer Trust will be collecting for valuable funds at BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park on Saturday afternoon ahead of our British & Irish Cup fixture with Nottingham Rugby (kick-off 2.30pm). Ahead of the game, we take a closer look at the charity and discover how they are making a difference...
About Teenage Cancer Trust:
Teenage Cancer Trust is the only UK charity dedicated to improving the quality of life and chances of survival for the seven young people aged between 13 and 24 diagnosed with cancer every day. We build specialist units within NHS hospitals bringing young people together to be treated by teenage cancer experts in a place designed just for them. We want every young person with cancer to have access to this specialist support, no matter where they live.
Traditionally treated alongside children or elderly patients at the end of their lives, young people can feel extremely isolated and alone during their treatment, some never meeting another young person with cancer. Being treated alongside others their own age can make a huge difference to their whole experience.
Teenage Cancer Trust believes young people’s lives shouldn’t stop because they have cancer, so we treat them as young people first, cancer patients second. We exist to ensure they have access to the best possible care and professional support from the point of diagnosis.
We know providing a place that feels more ‘normal’ and less like an institution helps young people cope with the devastation and chaos of cancer and its gruelling treatments. Our units are designed to feel like a home from home, where young people will be comfortable. The walls are bright, the furniture is funky, there might be pool tables and a jukebox, and there’s always a place to watch films and surf the net.
Teenage Cancer Trust’s only unit in Wales opened at the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, in June 2009 and is called The Skypad. The unit cares for young people with cancer aged between 13 and 24 from right across South Wales. The unit was funded entirely by voluntary donations and the £3 million it cost to build was raised thanks to the hard work and generosity of the public. It is the only specialist teenage cancer facility of its kind in Wales.
Why we need your help in Wales:
Once Teenage Cancer Trust has built a unit we remain committed to the maintenance of that unit and the ongoing support of young people in that area. This means that each year in South Wales we need to raise around £620,000 in order to continue to provide the best possible care and support for young people from across the region.
This year unit has been fully operational and accepting referrals for 6 years to ensure that any young person with cancer aged 13 -24 years old in South Wales has the choice to be treated in a specialist age-appropriate facility.
The University of Wales Hospital unit has been designed to meet the physical, emotional and social needs of the young people treated. As well as being modern and bright, it is optimised to provide comfort, stimulation and control during long stays in hospital through a range of ways in which young people can stay connected with their lives.
Currently for every young person we support there is another we cannot. We need you help to do more. Help us reach our aim of being there for every young person with cancer in Wales.
For more information:
To discover more about Teenage Cancer Trust in Wales, volunteering opportunities or for support with your own fundraising event contact the local fundraising team by calling 07985 471429 or email [email protected]