Local Teenage Cancer Trust branch to be wound down after achieving goals
Teenage Cancer Trust’s Guernsey branch is winding down operations after ticking off all the achievements it set out to do.
The Guernsey appeal was set up in 2010 by parents of young people aged 13 to 24 undergoing cancer treatment, and raised £675,000 over the past 13 years.
‘Luckily for us in Guernsey, our numbers of children with cancer are very low, and we tend to support one or two a year,’ said Guernsey appeal chairwoman Suzanne Pontin.
‘Our original remit was to build a new ward in Southampton specially for teenagers, because they are usually on the children’s ward with Thomas the Tank Engine decorations, or on the adults ward with elderly people.
‘We have successfully achieved what we set out to do.’
The building of the Southampton Teenage Cancer Trust unit in 2013 was supported by both Guernsey and Jersey appeals.
It has wide, curved corridors, pictures of both islands, and fireplaces that turn into TVs.
The staff also understand what teenagers are like and wake them up for morning medications at mid-morning, rather than 6am.
Most importantly it has wifi for patients.
Sam Proudlove-Gains was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia in November 2018 when he was 12.
He was in Southampton and Bristol for treatment for about seven months, during which time the trust funded travel and accommodation for his dad and stepdad, while his mum stayed with him at the hospital.
When a local child is diagnosed with cancer, the States pays for travel for one parent which can be difficult for other siblings, parents who may need to take time off of work, and those with blended families. The cancer charity would like to see more States support, rather than relying on the voluntary sector.
The Guernsey appeal of TCT is just one branch of the UK charity, which will continue to support Channel Islands’ children with cancer.
‘With new rules and regulations, running a charity in Guernsey has become a full-time job, especially when you’re working with a small committee,’ said Mrs Pontin.
‘There are so many charities in Guernsey and it’s a battle for space, even for things such as a flag day. We still want to be there as a contact for people, and we can direct them to the Teenage Cancer Trust.’
People locally will still be able to support the charity, donate and leave legacies to the overarching Teenage Cancer Trust, which will continue to support local teenagers.
