Wales

Teenage cancer patients in Wales now have access to a £3.4m Teenage Cancer Trust unit at University Hospital Cardiff which was officially opened in July by Sarah, Duchess of York.

Teenage Cancer Trust also funds Lead Nurses and Youth Support Co-ordinators.

The Lead Nurse in Cardiff was employed in 2008 and a Youth Support Worker will commence duties in the autumn.

The Skypad Teenage Cancer Trust Unit in Cardiff is one of several South Wales buildings up for prestigious awards. The unit, at the University Hospital is on the list of nominations for the 2010 Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors Awards.

Teenage Cancer Trust continues to raise money to support existing unit and to develop new services to support young people with cancer across Wales.

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Run the Cardiff Half Marathon for Teenage Cancer Trust!

Help us provide specialist services for young cancer patients in Wales by taking part in this brilliant half marathon. To find out more please visit the Cardiff Half Marathon website.

Be sure to get in touch with us once you’ve got your place so we can give you full support and advice with your fundraising and training as well as the all-important Teenage Cancer Trust running vest!

6th-8th August

Jon Cowpe,Luke Cowpe and Mathew Steed are challenging the Three Peaks to support Teenage Cancer Trust's Welsh unit at University Hospital Cardiff. For further info on how to support them please contact larsygabs@btinternet.com

25th September Shining Stars Walk

September in BUTE PARK - Cardiff, this leisurely early evening stroll is a popular fundraising calendar event For more information contact Anne Huxtable 02920 405 923.

Saturday 2nd October 7pm

GALA CONCERT THEATR ELLI LLANELLI with award winning choirs CF1 and Cantata as well as Musical Theatre Stars Gwydion Rhys and Lynwen Haf Roberts.Compered by Garry Owen and produced by Cerith Owens in aid of Teenage Cancer Trust' specialist unit for Wales at University Hospital Heath, Cardiff

Tickets £8 adults £5 children,unreserved available from Cerith Owens 01554 754022 or Llanelli Entertainment Centre Box Office 01554 774057

Sunday 6th March 2011 5pm

CHOIRS KENSINGTON to CARDIFF return by popular demand to the WALES MILLENNIUM CENTRE bringing 450 male voices with the repertoire of the ROYAL ALBERT HALL Autumn 2010 Festival of Male Voice Choirs ALWYN HUMPHREYS MBE musical director with special guests CORY BAND musical director DR ROBERT CHILDS.

ELIZABETH DONOVAN soprano DAVID KEMPSTER tenor

ANNABEL THWAITE Piano

FRANK LINCOLN compare

Tickets available through Wales Millennium Centre Box Office on 029 2063 6464 usual concessions apply or online www.wmc.org.uk. For further information please contact Eiddwen Evans on EiddwenEvans@yahoo.co.uk or 0208 446 4137

Skypad unit opened

Sarah, Duchess of York, Teenage Cancer Trust’s Patron, officially opened the charity’s ‘Skypad’ in June 2009 - the only specialist teenage cancer facility of its kind in Wales.

She was joined by fellow Patron and frontman of The Who, Roger Daltrey CBE, and Stereophonics’ Kelly Jones, an active supporter of the charity which helps young people fight cancer.

The Duchess, along with Daltrey and Jones, visited the unit at the University Hospital Wales, where they were introduced to patients and members of staff. Sarah then greeted over 100 guests in the hospital’s recreation hall, where she unveiled a plaque to commemorate the opening.

Speaking at the launch the Duchess said “I think there’s a great atmosphere here - it’s modern, it’s funky and it’s got teenager written all over it. The real celebrities are those people on the unit who are fighting for their lives.”

Daltrey added “Without these units teenagers are put into children’s wards with babies and under 12s or on adult wards that could be with geriatrics – that’s certainly not good for teenagers and even worse for the older people. A lot of the time people focus on the money that’s spent on drugs but when you’re in hospital it’s a really boring place. But if you can hang out with people your own age it’s better. The kids are saying it’s like being on Big Brother!”

This unit is the first specific provision for teenagers and young people with cancer in Wales so is a major step forward for cancer care in the country.

The state-of-the-art unit, which opened to patients in May, cares for young people with cancer from across South Wales. It is a result of years of tireless fundraising by Teenage Cancer Trust and supporters around the country. Since launching an ambitious appeal in 2004, the charity has been running a fundraising appeal towards the cost of the £3million unit.

Teenage Cancer Trust’s unit has eight inpatient beds and day care facilities for 14 to 25 year olds. Using the latest technology, ‘The Skypad’ has been built on stilts between the adult and paediatric oncology centres. It will include all the usual features of a Teenage Cancer Trust unit, including out-patient facilities, a chill out zone, a private kitchen and access to media facilities such as the internet, TV and music.

Christian's story

When Christian was diagnosed with leukaemia at the age of 17 he was treated on a children's ward.

Christian said' I couldn't relate to the much younger patients and I found myself staying in bed all day,not bothering to get up'

Christian, now 21 and in remission from cancer says 'The facilities Teenage Cancer Trust provides make such a difference. It was important for me to continue my life as normal and for other young people with cancer the Teenage Cancer Trust unit will mean that this can happen. It will make such a difference to the lives of so many young people suffering from cancer in Wales and to their families too. Teenage Cancer Trust addresses so many issues which are not relevant in the children/adult services but they are in young people'