Robyn's message | Christmas Star Appeal 2024

“Weston Park Cancer Charity is a local charity, and we see first-hand, on a day-to-day basis, the difference and impact your money has on young people with cancer.”

Tell us about the Teenage and Young Adult Cancer Service

Our Teenage and Young Adult Cancer Services provides specialist care for anyone who has a cancer diagnosis within South Yorkshire aged 13-24.

We have a five-bed unit within Weston Park but the majority of patients we care for are on tablet treatments which means they no longer need to come into hospital for care, which is fantastic.

We are there from diagnosis, all the way through treatment and two years post-treatment, we also support palliative patients.

As well as their clinical care we want to help these young people have a sense of normality too. For example if they want to carry on with their university studies, or they might be studying for their GCSEs, or some of them are young parents themselves. This additional support is really important.

A lot of that comes with activities that aren't standard in an NHS setting, which is where the Charity’s fund comes in.

How does Weston Park Cancer Charity’s support benefit the young people?

We know that when young people get to know each other, it really makes a difference. To have cancer at the age we deal with is incredibly rare, they can feel isolated. That's what all these things do, getting people together so things don't feel so scary and isolating.

For example, we’ve just had a couple’s day to York, they did a romantic boat trip and went for a meal. They got to meet other couples going through the same situation. We’ve recently taken a group to the seaside, made possible by one of the Charity’s wonderful volunteer drivers. Once a month we host a breakfast pop-in. Sometimes they talk about cancer, but sometimes about normal stuff, Love Island is coming up a lot at the moment!

The Weston Park Cancer Charity fund also helps when we have an idea, which come from patient needs. We've noticed we've got an increasing number of young people who have had surgery-only treatment, and they can feel different to patients who have had chemotherapy/radiotherapy.

We’ve done some 1:1 work, through the Charity fund, with our young people, taking them out to Ladybower Reservoir for a confidence activity which is tailored to the individual.

We also threw a 21st birthday party for the service in January, in Kelham Island. We got all our young people together and they were on the dance floor singing and having fun with their mates, it felt really beautiful.

“The hardship grants funded by Weston Park Cancer Charity are invaluable”

We also assess young people’s financial needs to offer hardship grants, funded by the Charity. Often our young people have been working, or at university and might struggle to pay their bills. Parents often take time off work and could have other children to look after, so the hardship grants are invaluable.

A lot of our young people are impacted by the changes to their body from their cancer treatment. To help with their body image, we organise peer support sessions, to normalise their issues.

“We get to be adaptable, almost like a bespoke service.”

It's exciting what you get to help with. We help with whatever feels important to them and we get to be adaptable as a service and that’s amazing.

What have you got planned for the service for Christmas?

We go to Chatsworth House every year. We’ll go to the Panto. Again, this is all funded by the Charity. Some people end up staying in the Unit over Christmas, so we’ll sort out presents, treats and footballers usually visit!

We know, when young people are on treatment, that isn't a normal Christmas, but we try to make that Christmas feel as important to them as any other.

Can you explain what the support is that you offer to young peoples’ family members?

As long as the young person is happy with it, we’ll support parents, siblings, partners, grandparents, all the people who are important to them.

We have started sessions for family members. We know young people benefit from getting to know each other, but for parents it can also be isolating to have a child, no matter how old they are, going through cancer. Parents have told us it's been a real benefit.

“We are really proud to be able to offer bereavement grants, for people at the single most difficult time of their life, thanks to the Charity’s support.”

The Charity’s fund also pays for bereavement grants, which can ease things for people at the single most difficult time of their life.

What would you like to say to people donating this Christmas?

“Weston Park Cancer Charity is a local charity, and we see first-hand, on a day-to-day basis, the difference and impact your money has on young people with cancer.”

We provide our young people with practical things that they have asked for and that’s where your money will go.

Cancer changes everything, but this Christmas so can you. Your generosity will help support clinical trials in Sheffield.