Latest Charity Initiative by AFCB – Support for Youth Cancer Trust (Aug 09)
February 2, 2010 by admin
Filed under AFCB - News Archive 07-09
Image: courtesy of the Bournemouth Daily Echo
Adam Murry, Operations Director of AFC Bournemouth is proud to announce that on Sat 15th August at home with Rotherham, our second chosen charity initiative will be supporting the Youth Cancer Trust.
The Youth Cancer Trust provides free activity based holidays for young people between the ages of 14 and 30 who are living in the United Kingdom and Irish Republic, or are patients of hospitals in the UK and are suffering with cancer. Youngsters’ can come on a holiday if they have been in remission for up to 5 years.
About the Youth Cancer Trust:
The charity was first established in 1997 by Brenda Clark, who had recently lost her only child Tracy Ann, aged 21, from cancer. It was very quickly realised that young cancer patients were obtaining great benefit from a short holiday: The youngsters provide comfort and encouragement for each other and Bournemouth has all the facilities needed for an enjoyable holiday for young people.
“Since forming the charity we have grown slowly but steadily. At every stage of our development we have taken great care to understand the youngster’s needs and to learn from them and their parents about the service we provide. It has become more and more apparent that we boost confidence, provide invaluable ‘fun’ and ’stress-free’ periods and more than anything else bring normality and hope back into the young peoples lives.
Being supported by AFC Bournemouth is fantastic for YCT. On behalf of the charity, I want to thank AFCB, the supporters and local community. YCT is about sharing the experience and we really are ‘better together’ in partnership with AFCB!”
Brenda Clark – Founder
“The thing that sets The Youth Cancer Trust apart from other charities is that it doesn’t just provide a place for ‘ill people’ to go, it provides a refuge from real life, a break from the hardship of treatment and recovery that people who have cancer have to face, but more than that it enables people to achieve experiences that they thought they would never have again. I have seen people’s confidence increase in the space of 4 days of arriving at Tracy Ann house. What the Youth Cancer Trust achieves is incredible and I can’t thank them enough.” Richard (cancer patient) age 22
How we can help young cancer patients:
The Youth Cancer Trust currently welcomes over 200 teenagers and young people with cancer each year. This year occupancy is at 230. The youngsters come from all over the UK and Ireland to stay at Tracy Ann House in Bournemouth. The holidays take place all year round.
The YCT pays for all the holiday costs, which include:
- Transport to and from Tracy Ann House
- Activities – horse riding, water sports, dry slope skiing, go-karting…
- Food
- Accommodation and fun!
AFB Bournemouth proposes the funding of the summer holiday groups:
7 weeks of 8 young cancer patients
Each holiday costs £400
Total cost of 56 holidays x £400 = £22,400
That’s 56 holidays which AFCB, the supporters and the local community can provide for these brave young people.
Outside support of the Youth Cancer Trust is crucial to its survival. The charity receives no government funding. Therefore we at AFC Bournemouth are very proud to support this amazing charity and hope that together we can reach our goal.
Conclusion:
When young people are diagnosed with cancer, the effects upon them, their families, their friends, arguably their school and local community are profound. Testimonial evidence confirms that these young people desperately need to meet with peers who are undergoing similar trauma in their lives, relieving the sense of isolation they feel during illness and at such a critical age. The emphasis at The Youth Cancer Trust is upon fun, relaxation and communication. There is no other organisation, charitable or otherwise, which specifically targets this need as its core function. YCT constantly reviews The Youth Cancer Trust holiday scheme. The most direct evaluation is by encouraging instant feedback from the youngsters themselves who after a holiday In Bournemouth report that they feel a renewed strength and confidence to continue their battle with cancer.
Adam Murry quotes ‘having lost my own father to a long suffering cancer when I was 16yrs old, I am able to relate to what effects cancer has in peoples lives, and I am proud to be able to support through AFC Bournemouth, and AFC Bournemouth youth, this amazing charity. Our youth team will now act as ambassadors to the Youth Cancer Trust and together we can make a big difference in these young adults lives. I would personally like to thank the board, the staff and players at AFCB, The Daily Echo, Astute, Fleet Personnel, Dave Jennings from Vital Football, Apple Cars and all the supporters who have contributed so far.‘
Please send any donations or cheques no matter how small, made payable to ‘Youth Cancer Trust’ to Adam Murry, AFCB, Dean Court, Bournemouth, BH7 7AF T: 01202 768950. Please include your name, address & postcode, in order for us to receipt your donation.
Youth Cancer Trust, Tracy Ann House, 5 Studland Road, Alum Chine, Bournemouth, BH4 8HZ
