Our Founders' Circle
No young person should face cancer alone. Together, we can make sure they don’t.
Who are the Founders’ Circle?
Over thirty years ago, Myrna and Adrian Whiteson had a vision – to live in a world where cancer doesn’t stop young people from living their lives. By creating Teenage Cancer Trust they changed cancer care for young people throughout the UK forever.
The Founders’ Circle is a group of exceptional individuals who are dedicated to continuing this legacy. You can join today to stand by this vision and join a group of inspirational people, committed to making sure that young people receive the age-appropriate support they deserve.
Why we need your help
Every day seven young people aged 13-24 will receive a cancer diagnosis. Relationships, exams, careers, life plans are all shattered with the words ‘you have cancer’.
A cancer diagnosis can throw young people’s lives into chaos. Young people with cancer need specialised nursing and emotional support. Without it they may face overwhelming fear and isolation, as they deal with this earth-shattering news.
The money raised by the Founders Circle will fund vital services that are crucial to providing age-appropriate care for young people, such as expert nursing and support teams and the running costs of our incredible Teenage Cancer Trust hospital wards.
Why I’m proud to be part of the Founders’ Circle
“I cannot imagine the horror a teenager must feel when going through this traumatic time, just as life should be opening up for them and they are working out what their future holds.
“Myrna and Adrian Whiteson have worked tirelessly to establish this wonderful charity, which has supported young people and their families going through cancer for over 30 years. They had the vision to establish this special organisation, specifically to cater for the needs of young people with cancer, ensuring they do not have to face their illness alone.
“It is a great honour to be part of this group of people who are dedicated to continuing the remarkable work which has transformed so many people’s lives. I hope that others will join us, to support this fantastically worthwhile charity.”
Our members
Your impact
In pledging a gift of £5,000 or more annually and by joining the Founders’ Circle, you will continue the Founders’ legacy to make sure young people receive the age-appropriate care and support they desperately need, now and in the future.
Your £5,000 could go toward funding a month’s worth of specialist medical, social and emotional care for a young person with cancer.
Members receive personal updates about how their support is helping and invitations to exclusive, members only fundraising events. Above all, you will make a life-changing difference to young people with cancer.
Ways to join the Founders' Circle
Join the Circle and give monthly
Sign up monthly, by giving £417 per month via Direct Debit.
Join the Circle and give annually
Sign up annually, by giving £5,000 per year via credit or debit card.
Our payment system is encrypted with the latest technology - it is important to us that your transaction is completed securely and safely. We take all major credit and debit cards, except AMEX.
Want to know more before joining? Please contact us [email protected].
Other ways to join
Donate via bank transfer
Please email us [email protected] and we will provide our bank details.
Donate via cheque
Please send cheques to, including reference number: FoundersYourName
Teenage Cancer Trust
The Place
175 High Holborn
London
WC1V 7AA
Help us grow the circle
If you know someone who you’d like to refer on to us and join the circle, please get in contact.
Myrna Whiteson MBE, Teenage Cancer Trust Founder
“The whole idea is that the patient is central. They are a young person first and a cancer patient second.
“They don’t want to be identified as a cancer patient, they’re a young person who happens to have cancer.”
Our Founders' Story
In 1989, Myrna Whiteson MBE met a mother whose 13-year-old son had cancer and was being treated both in a children’s ward and alongside older people in an adult oncology ward. Not only was he facing the trauma of cancer and cancer treatment, but he was isolated from other young people going through the same thing.
Joining forces with her husband Dr Adrian Whiteson OBE and a group of volunteers, they raised the money needed for the first Teenage Cancer Trust unit to open in 1990 at the Middlesex Hospital, London.
They didn’t know it then, but that hospital unit would be the first of 28, providing specialist care across the UK.
In the decades since, Myrna and Adrian have run 11 London Marathons, organised the first ever Global Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Congress, and of course, spearheaded the Teenage Cancer Trust concerts at the Royal Albert Hall, along with Roger Daltrey of The Who. They have changed the face of cancer care for teenagers and young adults all over the world – forever.
Dear Friend,
About thirty years ago we were shocked by the lack of appropriate specialist cancer treatment for those who were no longer children – but not yet adults. At that time teenage and young adult cohort were probably the most neglected group of cancer patients, here and around the world.
Young teens were treated as children alongside babies and toddlers. Twenty-year-olds were relegated to adult wards, together with those of their grandparents age. This situation was neither medically nor socially fit to meet the needs of youthful patients.
Above all – staff were not sufficiently experienced in the cancers affecting this age group. With the development of our first Teenage Cancer Trust Unit at the Middlesex Hospital, London, we began to establish the opportunity to train medical personnel and develop expertise.
At that time, we did not dream that our charity would grow to be a worldwide influence in the field of cancer and young people. We had identified a lack in UK cancer services – and we set out to correct that omission.
Since the nineties we have grown – and shown the world how to cater for the vulnerable youth facing the trials of growing up with the dreadful challenges of cancer. Having worked with young people over the years, we were aware of the difficulties of adolescence and adding cancer to that difficult stage in life was overwhelming for patients and their families.
The pioneering work of our initially volunteer run Teenage Cancer Trust put young people on the cancer map. We have established twenty-eight specialist units around the UK and we have inspired other countries to follow in our footsteps, increasing expertise and facilities around the world.
We have faced challenges by those who doubted our aims and faced the uphill task of fundraising to achieve the ambitious goals we set out with. Today’s pandemic threatens to shake the very foundations of Teenage Cancer Trust, and we cannot allow that to happen. We have to maintain our units, nurses, activity co-ordinators and services, and ensure long and healthy lives for our youngsters.
Receiving no government funding, Teenage Cancer Trust relies solely on donations – so our friends are a vital part of the charity. We, literally, could not manage without the help of our supporters.
We have been privileged to work with our brave young people. We have been honoured by their trust and we would like to share that reward with you. Join the Founders Circle today to stand by our side and make a real difference for young people facing cancer.
To find out more about how to join the Founders’ Circle please get in touch with the team by emailing [email protected].
We look forward to hearing from you.
Myrna Whiteson MBE
Adrian Whiteson OBE
