Local garden centre raises thousands for Teenage Cancer Trust

29/01/09

Bernard Hanraads and his wife, Linda, from near Market Harborough, were inspired to fundraise for a new Teenage Cancer Trust unit in the East Midlands after their 17 year-old niece was diagnosed with cancer.

Over the festive period they held a number of events in their home town of Ashley, near Market Harborough, and at their garden centre, Glebe Garden Centre, in Countesthorpe.

Bernard said: “Our niece is now in her final stages of chemotherapy which is great news. Through her we understand how vitally important it is for young people to be treated alongside other people of a similar age. Just being able to talk to someone who is going through what you are too, makes such a big difference. That’s why we wanted to raise as much as possible for the new Teenage Cancer Trust unit.

The events we held in aid of Teenage Cancer Trust were a great success – my wife organised an exotic belly dancing evening in Ashley which raised over £2,000, and we also held a number of events at Glebe Garden Centre, including a special visit by Father Christmas, the Little Theatre of Leicester, and an appearance by some of Leicester City’s women’s football team. A huge thank you to all the staff at the garden centre who helped us throughout.”

Dianne McCutheon, Regional Appeals Manager for Teenage Cancer Trust in the East Midlands said: “The Hanraads very kind donation will go towards Teenage Cancer Trust’s new unit which will care for young people with cancer from across the East Midlands. Each unit costs the charity £2million to build, all of which has to be raised from voluntary donations so we are thrilled with the fundraising efforts of the Hanraads and their friends.”

There’s never a good time to get cancer, but for a teenager the timing seems particularly cruel. Young people can get some of the most rare and aggressive forms of cancer. The emotional upheaval of adolescence can make a cancer diagnosis even harder to cope with.

Every day in the UK, six young people will have to face that diagnosis. Teenage Cancer Trust understands that teenage cancer requires specialist care and in fact, that young people have a much better chance in their fight against cancer if they are treated by teenage cancer experts, in an environment tailored to their needs.

Teenage Cancer Trust builds units in NHS hospitals which improve the quality of life and chances of survival for young people with cancer. Teenage Cancer Trust estimates that with the units currently around the UK, only half of the teenagers diagnosed with cancer now have access to this dedicated, specialist support. The aim is build enough units so that, by 2012, every single teenager with cancer will be treated on one.