What's it like to stand on the iconic Royal Albert Hall stage?

Each year, alongside the artists who take to it for our legendary fundraising gigs, some even more important people have the opportunity to stand onstage to share their experiences – people who have been supported by Teenage Cancer Trust. 

Film stars and rockstars

Neil and Emma Hawksey shared their daughter Kirsten’s story on stage in 2025. Kirsten was just 23 when she died – four weeks after being diagnosed with leukaemia. A film about her life was shown and the couple received a standing ovation when they stepped out. 

Emma said: “What can I say - what an amazing experience it was to speak about Kirsten to such a large group of people and have them all seeing her gorgeous face! Despite the nerves, being on that stage was such a surreal and overwhelming feeling – of pride, of hope, but most of all, of love. The love we felt from the whole Teenage Cancer Trust team and the audience is a feeling we will never, ever forget.”

Musician Grace Kelly went even further – as well as featuring in one of our films and speaking on stage, her band Venus Grrls also supported James Arthur in 2025. 

Grace was 24 when she was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia, just as the band were about to take off, with their song playlisted on Radio One. 

She said: “Music not only soundtracked my cancer journey, it was my catharsis. It understood me in such an isolating experience, yet never looked at me any differently.

“Getting to play The Royal Albert Hall for Teenage Cancer Trust last year with my band was a moment I have so many times wished I could go back and show the past version of me. The version of me on chemotherapy and unsure of what the future was going to look like. I know she would have been so proud if she had known what was to come. Cancer can be so alienating for young people, but music is a meaningful and essential tool to hold us up when we have nowhere else to turn.”

From backstage to on stage

Young people who take part in our Ultimate Backstage Experience, which is sponsored by Domino’s, also have the chance to take part in the ultimate selfie moment onstage. Thousands of audience members light up the auditorium with their phones, turning the view from the stage into a sea of stars for a truly special moment. 

Lenie Zeze, now 23, took part in the Ultimate Backstage Experience last year. Lenie was diagnosed with Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma in November 2022 after finding a lump in the side of her neck. She was studying for a degree in medicine at the time, and sought help from the GP on her placement. 

She said “I was lucky enough to share a few words with the crowd on stage to thank everyone for all their donations and share how much of an impact the support Teenage Cancer Trust makes. The support from the crowd was unbelievable and it was such a special moment to experience!” 

Abbie Smith also took part in the onstage moment. 

Abbie, now 24, visited her doctor multiple times after suffering from back pain and difficulty breathing. She was eventually sent to A&E where it was discovered that she had a collapsed lung and she was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Lymphoma. She started treatment with support from Teenage Cancer Trust, and attended the Ultimate Backstage Experience in 2024. 

She said: “The absolute highlight of the day was being invited on stage and having the whole audience shine their lights in support of us, it made me feel so special and, in that moment, I felt like every single person in that hall was right behind me in my cancer battle!”