Penarth News
Penarth friends raise almost £5,000 for Teenage Cancer Trust
8:40am Saturday 4th February 2012
TWO friends from Penarth, fundraising for the Teenage Cancer Trust (TCT) unit at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff, have raised nearly £5,000!
Lara Cowpe and Anne Huxtable arranged a ball at the Angel Hotel in Cardiff, where 220 guests enjoyed a three course meal, a ballroom dancing demonstration, an auction, raffle and tombola, as well as live music from band the Sleepy Weasels.
The duo decided to hold the event as part of their ongoing fundraising for the charity, which holds personal significance for both of them.
Lara developed Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma at the age of seven and received treatment until her late teens; while Anne’s son Dan was diagnosed with Choriocarcinoma, a rare and aggressive form of testicular cancer. Sadly, Dan lost his battle with cancer but Anne has raised money in his memory ever since.
"It still catches our breath that every day in the UK, six young people between the ages of 13 and 24 are diagnosed with cancer," said Lara.
"Teenagers often attract the rarest and most aggressive forms of cancer, which go misdiagnosed and undetected due to hormones and growth spurts. "Under the age of 16 a teenager with cancer is placed on a children’s ward, and over the age of 16 on an adult ward," she added.
"Both of these are inappropriate and can leave the young person feeling isolated. But TCT is a UK charity which builds specialist units for teenagers and young adults with cancer.
"The Skypad unit at the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, is the first of its kind in Wales – which means young people with cancer can be treated closer to home, school, college, work, and their friends and family, and alongside people their own age."
Lara said the charity ball had been a huge success.
"The final amount raised was £4,800," she added.
"This is a fantastic sum and has gone towards iPads for patients on the unit.
"Our guests enjoyed the evening; many were very complimentary and told us if we held a ball annually they would definitely attend.
"We are so grateful to everyone who attended, gave auction, raffle and tombola items, and made donations. Their support made the evening so successful in raising money and awareness for young people with cancer in Wales."
For more information on future fundraising events, email huxtableanne@yahoo.co.uk or larsygabs@btinternet.com