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Having had cancer myself as a teenager, I know how traumatic and life altering this situation can be.  However, I can also say that cancer is one of the best things that has ever happened to me!  This is because of who I have become as a consequence of having cancer.

Sharing this with teenagers in similar situations is a big mission of mine and I am passionately committed to helping teenagers and young adults transition from a traumatic period into a world of transformational possibility.

For this reason, I connected with and support the charity Teens Unite Fighting Cancer.  This charity is unique in that along with providing support and connection for teenagers aged 16-21 who are suffering form cancer and their families, Teens Unite provide on-going support after the cancer is declared in remission.  This is the point where all other charities and organisation stop their support and the teen is expected to just 'get on with life'.

Imagine how hard it might be to struggle through an illness that has such a stigma attached to it like cancer.  How this illness might make you feel different and disconnected from everyone else.  Now imagine going through that as a teenager.  During those years when you're already going through hormonal changes, physical changes, mental / emotional changes and your whole life is about fitting in and being included, now you have an illness that makes you look, feel and think differently.

How hard might it be to fit back into normal teenage life when you've been through an experience like that?  I can tell you from personal experience that no matter how hard you try and fit in and become normal again, life after cancer is irrevocably different.

Rather than be handicapped by this difference, what if this experience could be the source of your becoming all that you could be and the reason why you make a difference in this world?  I know it has for me and this is why I want other teenagers to recognise the potential gift that cancer has given them.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity. So it’s the most efficient way to donate – saving time and cutting costs for the charity.