Teenage Cancer Trust

Registered Charity Number: 1062559

Thank you for visiting my page about the Teenage Cancer Trust (TCT) - a charity very, very close to my heart, as I’m a teenager with cancer myself.

Teenage Cancer Trust is a charity devoted to improving the lives of teenagers and young adults with cancer.

Receiving 8 weeks of daily radiotherapy October - December 2000, age 11

TCT’s main aim is to build specialist units in NHS hospitals for teenagers and young adults going through treatment for cancer. Often these young people are either on a ward with babies, or a ward with much older people, and it’s not very appropriate. I’ve had all my treatment on children’s wards, and trust me, it can be annoying!

TCT build state-of-the-art units which, as well as providing superior medical facilities, are equipped with day rooms, kitchens and chill-out rooms where teenagers can relax and feel at home or have friends and family to visit in a comfortable environment. There are computers with internet access, pool tables, playstations, satellite TV, musical instruments, and other things teenagers might like to occupy their time with, or share with friends. Most importantly, the units provide an environment where teenagers can meet others in a similar situation and allow patients to build friendships and mechanisms to cope with their disease.

Teenage Cancer Trust are now building one of their special units at The Royal Marsden Hospital in Surrey, where I’ve had all my cancer treatment since I was 11 years old. This included 14 weeks of daily radiotherapy, 15 months of chemotherapy, echo scans, kidney tests, one Hickman line, hundreds of check-ups and MRI scans and about a million blood tests and cannulas!

Me and chemo duck – the coolest duck ever!

I have set up ‘Nicole’s fund’ to help TCT with building this new unit. My aim is to raise £50,000, and I’d like to have reached my target by 2010, which is when the unit is hoped to be ready. If I ever relapse again from my cancer, I’ll be using this unit, so I want to do my bit to help.

On chemo, October 2006 - February 2007, age 17

Every day in the UK, up to 6 teenagers are told that they have cancer. That’s approximately 2,100 teenagers and young adults (13-24 year olds) a year. Cancer is the most common cause of death at this age, and the most common cause of non-accidental death at this age.

For more information, visit: www.teenagecancertrust.org

and to help me reach my target please visit: www.justgiving.com/nicolesfund

or please send a cheque payable to ‘Teenage Cancer Trust’ and post it to:

Teenage Cancer Trust,

Nicole’s Fund,

PO Box 702,

East Grinstead,

RH19 3WX.

Thank you very much. xxx

Receiving 6 weeks of daily radiotherapy, November 2007 - January 2008, age 18.

Here I will keep you up to date with my fundraising activities, and the events which are helping me to reach my target:

My first donation to help set my target off was on 3rd July 2008, but unfortunately it was raised at my Grandad’s funeral. Guests were asked to donate to TCT instead of buying flowers, and £250 was raised. Thank you if you were there and donated.

RIP Grandad, 25.09.1917 - 26.06.2008.