Thank you for taking the time to visit my Just Giving page. 

My name is Lara; as most of you know, I spent the past year fighting cancer.  At the age of 18, during my first 2 months at university in Newcastle, my world was turned upside down in the space of a few moments when I was told I had stage 4b Hodgkin's Lymphoma. 

As a late teen, I did not know much about cancer, the first time I ever heard of Lymphoma was when I googled my symptoms after my first GP appointment alone in Newcastle. What I would later discover was that every year in the UK, over 400 young people aged 15 to 24 are diagnosed with lymphoma. Like me, many people have not heard of Lymphoma, let alone know the symptoms they should be aware of. This is one of the reasons I am raising money and bringing awareness to Teenage Cancer Trust, so that young people are aware cancer can happen to them and what symptoms they need to look out for. 

Cancer at any age is hard, but as a late teen or young adult can be even harder to overcome when you're just starting to get freedom and independence in your life, but then it all gets taken away again. Teenage cancer trust provides specialist Teen and Young Adult nurses who help young people cope with their new situation. During treatment, my nurse (Lorraine) helped me feel like an individual, not just another patient, and helped me recognise I was still a young person with a future. Lorraine was with me at every appointment, whether that be my chemo, blood transfusion, or meeting with my consultant - she was always there for me, without a doubt Lorraine and my Mum were my biggest supporters, who I completely trusted to be with me. Additionally, through Teenage Cancer Trust and Lorraine, I was introduced to other teens and young adults with cancer at organised meals, allowing us to us to get comfort from each other and not feel alone.

My aim with this page is to give back to this fantastic charity that I will forever be thankful for and also to bring awareness to cancer in young people. Money raised on this page and during Lara’s Afternoon Tea Fundraiser event in Chagford, Devon, will help fund Specialist TYA nurses, who make a significant impact on a young person’s cancer journey just like mine and who organise PEER support events. With charities like Teenage Cancer Trust we will be able to bring more awareness to cancer in young people and what they should be looking out for - trust your gut, when it doesn’t feel right, it’s not right. Please donate to the charity that has helped not only me, but thousands of teens and young adults with cancer and will help many more in the future.