Help Fuel the Sleigh this Christmas to ensure all Young Cancer Patients in Hospital Receive a Special Gift from Youth Cancer Charity

Fuel the Sleigh is the Christmas gift campaign from The Laura Crane Youth Cancer Trust which aims to provide special gifts to all young cancer patients in hospital at Christmas by collecting donations and gifts.

Approximately 500 young people aged between 13 and 24, will be spending Christmas in hospital this year, away from family and friends; so the charity is ensuring that gifts will be delivered to the 45 hospitals throughout the UK and Ireland that take care of young cancer patients to make sure each one receives something special.

The young patients may have to travel far away from home to receive treatment in one of the 45 hospitals supported by The Laura Crane Youth Cancer Trust and therefore away from the familiar comfort of home. The charity aims to make their Christmas as merry as possible with the annual Christmas gift campaign by showing that they are not alone in their fight.

The trust needs your help with kind donations for gifts for young people with cancer aged between 13 and 24. To make a financial donation text FUEL45 followed by the amount you wish to donate to 70070. You can help The Laura Crane Youth Cancer Trust make a big difference to a young cancer patient’s Christmas by donating today.

This year’s campaign is in memory of Clinton Stringer, the charity’s treasured and very much missed Father Christmas. Clinton had volunteered for the charity for a number of years and had been instrumental in promoting the gift campaign and collected hundreds and hundreds of selection boxes; which he donated to the LCYCT gift campaign, as well as many other charities and community organisations in his local area. Clinton sadly lost his battle with lung cancer in July and this year’s campaign is dedicated to him.

The Trust Manager, Pam Thornes commented, “This is the eleventh year the charity has run its Christmas gift campaign and it is an emotional rollercoaster because of the kindness and generosity demonstrated by members of the public for the appeal, teamed with the knowledge that many of these young patients are in the fight for their lives. This year’s campaign is especially emotional because it is dedicated to our dear friend and supporter Clinton Stringer.”

The charity will be fundraising and holding events in the run-up to Christmas, as well as collecting gifts from shoppers and members of the public.

Companies, organisations and individuals can get involved in other ways. Organisations or individuals can Dedicate a Christmas Tree, whether at home or at work, dedicate your Christmas tree to The Laura Crane Youth Cancer Trust and add a special gift tag that represents a gift for a young patient.

The charity’s gift campaign is only made possible each year by the incredible generosity of individuals and organisations, making sure each young patient in hospital receives a gift at Christmas. Nicky the Youth Support Coordinator on a teenage cancer ward said: “Christmas is a tough time for our teenagers and their families especially if they are on the ward during this time and away from their extended family and friends. We always try our best to make it as special as we can and with your help again this was a success. The gifts you send are very much appreciated by all and we cannot thank you enough.”

The Laura Crane Youth Cancer Trust urges you to join the fight against teenage cancer and help give a young person in hospital a very special Christmas gift. For more information about the campaign and how to get involved, visit www.lauracranetrust.org/fuel45.

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For further information and images please contact Helen or Katie at the Laura Crane Youth Cancer Trust on 01484 510013 or news@lauracranetrust.org

Notes to Editors:

Laura Crane Youth Cancer Trust:

• Cancer is the most common form of non-accidental death in teenagers and young adults in the UK.
• Every day in the UK seven young people (aged between 13 and 24) are diagnosed with cancer.

• The Laura Crane Youth Cancer Trust (LCYCT) is a local charity with national reach that supports 13 – 24 year olds during and after their fight with cancer.

• The Trust raises money to fund medical and social research into cancers that affect the 13-24-year-old age group and provides support mechanisms, such as technology, to remove feelings of isolation and improve time spent on hospital wards for young cancer patients and reinforce their fight.
• The Trust provides grants to young cancer patients to provide equipment or activities that improve their quality of life during and after cancer and its treatments.
• To Trust works with 45 hospitals across the UK, as well as collaboratively with other organisations to reach young cancer patients that need support.

• The Laura Crane Youth Cancer Trust was founded by the late Jacquie Roeder not long after her daughter Laura died of cancer in 1996, as a lasting legacy to someone who lived life to the full.

• The Laura Crane Youth Cancer Trust runs National Youth Against Cancer Week to raise awareness of cancer in young people and raise funds to help fight cancer in teenagers and young adults

• Follow us on Twitter @lauracranetrust
• Registered charity number 1138003