Young Lives vs Cancer helps children and young people (0-25) and their families find the strength to face the challenges of cancer. The organization provides financial support, day-to-day assistance, and resources related to cancer for affected families. Self-described as a charity, it aims to support young cancer patients and their families.

Young Lives vs Cancer

Young Lives vs Cancer | 13,040 followers on LinkedIn. We’re the charity that helps young people and their families find the strength to face everything cancer throws at them. | We’re the charity that helps young people and their families find the strength to face everything cancer throws at them. We&#39;ve been there before. We&#39;ll face it all, together.

Fundraising Engagement Manager at Young Lives Vs Cancer. This is my personal account and views expressed are my own.

Kim Mangelshot

Managing Partner at Bray Leino

Adam Holder

Sir David Haslam

Director of Digital, Data & Technology, Young Lives vs Cancer

David Minahan

The experiences of young people with cancer and their families, and the issues they face, have been highlighted in the results of the 2023 Under-26 Cancer Patient Experience Survey (CPES). While some positive findings are expected and welcome, like 97% reporting they were looked after "well" or "very well" by healthcare staff, others paint a concerning picture with three in five still reporting seeing the GP more than three times before being told to go to hospital. The results highlight issues that we continue to campaign on including the cost of travelling to treatment and the need for a national cancer plan that considers the unique needs of children and young people. Find out more about the CPES results 👉 https://ow.ly/nTmn50U7eqG

Welcome to the 13 new members of our Voice Board! 👋 The group of young people, parents and siblings came together this week as part of an induction to get to know each other and their role at Young Lives vs Cancer. All have lived experience of childhood/young adult cancer and the aim of the group is to make sure their views and experiences are heard and considered by decision-makers across the charity. Sophia, 16, one of our new members, said: "I’m so happy to be a part of the Voice Board to work alongside others who, like me, are passionate about improving the lives of young people who have been diagnosed with cancer. As a teenage cancer survivor myself, I have a particular interest in tackling issues which affect teenagers and young adults while they face cancer treatment." Find out more about our Voice Board here: https://ow.ly/xC8S50U234o

“The worry and anxiety when your child is really ill can feel overwhelming, but being able to stay close to hospital, close to your child, helps release some of the pressure.” Esme is an outgoing, sociable little girl. Her mum Anne says she ‘charms the pants off everyone’. At just three years old she was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, and treatment took its toll on the family. Things were especially difficult in the run up to Christmas two years ago, when Esme faced a month-long course of radiotherapy. Anne said: “The drive to hospital can be up to two hours, and it was winter, so we’d have been leaving early in the morning in the pitch dark. Esme was exhausted from the treatment; we didn’t want her to endure hours on the road there and back every day.” Thankfully Lorna, their Young Lives vs Cancer Specialist Social Worker, helped the family stay at CLIC House, one of our Homes from Home. As Anne explains, it was more than a free place to stay for the winter. It was somewhere to be together as a family. “Staying in a Home from Home with Esme changed everything. Ben, Esme’s dad, and I split the week so that one of us could always take Esme to treatment and collect her when it was over. And when her sister Olivia broke up from school, we could have little family outings in the afternoon and do normal things in the evening like eat together and watch TV.” She added: “Christmas has always been a big thing for our family. A big worry we had, over the winter and potentially Christmas itself, was that we were going to be apart. “But staying at CLIC House meant we could be together. Even though Esme was in hospital, we knew that when treatment finished we could do Christmas things, like go see the Christmas lights together. “Being able to stay at a Home from Home helped us to stay together as a family during the hardest time. CLIC House will always be special to us, we’ll never forget it.” Esme is doing really well now. It’s been more than two years since she finished treatment and she’s getting on with life – she really enjoys ballet and recently gave her first ever public performance. ❤️

Fiona took on our Cold Water Dip challenge back in February and raised over £3,000 in support of children and young people with cancer. She did it in honour of her 19-year-old daughter Jessica, who was diagnosed with Acute Promyelocytic Leukaemia last year. Fiona said: “Jessica had recently joined the Royal Air Force and was thoroughly enjoying life when she received her diagnosis. “Coping with the news you have cancer can be very difficult, both practically and emotionally, and as a parent I felt helpless. By taking on this challenge I felt that I was supporting my daughter and the many other young people with cancer. “The amount raised wasn’t just a number, it was hope packaged in pounds and will help bring brighter tomorrows for all those young people facing cancer.” We want to say a big thank you to Fiona and everyone who takes on challenge events for us. This year we’re running a Dip a Day challenge beginning on 1 December, and we’d love to have you on Team Young Lives. Learn more: https://ow.ly/BRin50U0eVF

📢 Today, the Health Policy Influencing Group (HPIG) released a roadmap detailing how the UK Government can prioritise children and young people within the NHS. We’re pleased to have contributed to this report, with recommendations to improve care for children with long-term health conditions, like cancer. In recent years, children’s health outcomes in England have fallen behind those of comparable countries. The UK Government has been clear that prevention is central to their Health Mission, but we must make sure that those with long-term conditions, that aren't caused by preventable factors, like cancer in children and young people, are not overlooked. This report represents the voices and expertise of over 50 children’s charities committed to a vision of a healthcare system that centres children’s well-being and long-term health. Read the full report here: https://bit.ly/4el6hiW National Children's Bureau , Council for Disabled Children Alt text: Title: The roadmap in brief. A pink winding road cuts across the middle of the image and cartoon people walk down the road. From left to right are some of the details in the HPIG 'Roadmap for the Healthiest Generation of Children Ever.' Eeach point is written in a colourful speech bubble. They include: A more equitable share of funding for children's health, explicit metrics for improving child health, creating a children and young people's board, and considering child health specialists in the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan.

“Working out how we truly hear, value and respond to the lived experience of those we serve has been a challenge that the Board, and the organisation has recognised and responded to over recent years.” This #TrusteesWeek , Rachel Hollis , a children’s cancer nurse, reflects on the last eight years as a trustee at Young Lives vs Cancer. She believes the views of those with lived experience are vital in driving the charity forward. Read more: https://ow.ly/EzYy50TZ2BI

Drumroll please... An astounding £399,000 has been raised for children and young people with cancer by J D Wetherspoon staff taking part in KICK, it's annual football fundraiser. KICK for Young Lives vs Cancer, now in its 21st year, originally started as a North London five-a-side tournament where it managed to raise £5,000. Due to its success, the tournament became the largest fundraising event for Wetherspoon staff to take part in. The first national ‘KICK for CLIC’ took place in September 2003 in seven venues across the UK. This year 424 teams took part. Congratulations to the Furze Wren in Bexleyheath for winning the title of National Champions for the second year running! Please join us in giving everyone who took part a huge round of applause 👏

Breaking News: UK Government confirms National Cancer Strategy It's the news we've all been waiting for - the UK Government will deliver a National Cancer Plan for England. And we're ready to continue working together to make sure it meets the unique needs of children and young people with cancer. Read our full response to today's news 👉 https://bit.ly/48tLfxb Thank you to everyone who has stood with us to call for a cancer plan that supports children and young people, we're pleased these calls have been heard and that children and young people are being considered by the UK Government. Together with our partners Children's Cancer and Leukaemia Group (CCLG) we've created a Children and Young People's Cancer Plan that the UK Government can use ensure their new National Cancer Plan doesn't leave children and young people with cancer behind.

Changes to Carers Allowance, an extension of the Household Support Fund, and investment in the NHS were all announced in this years Autumn Budget. And some key changes to support children and young people with cancer and their families were missing. Our Policy and Influencing team explain share what the Autumn Budget means for children and young people with cancer 👇

Please give a big round of applause to Toniie, who has been named Young Ambassador of the Year at the Pride of Jersey awards. 👏 Toniie won this award for her amazing work raising awareness of cancer on social media. She was diagnosed with thyroid cancer at 24 years old and has since been documenting her journey online, connecting with thousands of young people going through a similar journey. Her mum Caron said: “Despite going through her own journey of fighting cancer, Antonia is an inspiration and has dedicated the past year of her life to helping others and I couldn’t be prouder. She is a wonderful ambassador for her age group and a voice for the younger generation in Jersey.” We’re pleased to say Toniie has been in remission for nine months. Throughout her journey she was supported by Kate, a Young Lives vs Cancer Specialist Social Worker, who made sure Toniie’s mum Caron could stay with her during treatment. Toniie said: “I’m from Jersey but my treatment was in Southampton. My mum flew over to see me and we didn’t know when she’d be able to get back, as there was a huge storm in Jersey at the time. Kate helped arrange accommodation for my mum at Jean’s House, a Home from Home. They let her stay as long as she liked. “It’s difficult being from the Channel Islands and trying to coordinate your treatment and travel. Kate made sure that we had one less thing to worry about so all I had to focus on was my treatment. Even a year on, she still keeps in contact and has been following everything I’ve been doing to raise awareness.”

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Young Lives vs Cancer