The Laura Crane Youth Cancer Trust, a Global's Make Some Noise-supported charity

27 September 2015, 19:51 | Updated: 7 September 2016, 15:27

We are inspired by the work of The Laura Crane Youth Cancer Trust, who are committed to fighting cancer in young people, and helping improve the lives of those affected.

Laura Crane died just 2 weeks after her 17th birthday from four types of cancer. Her life was filled with love and laughter, and those who knew her during her 14-month illness were amazed at her cheerful courage and dignity. Despite all the obstacles put before her, Laura lived every minute to the full.

Following her death, Laura’s family set up The Laura Crane Youth Cancer Trust to fund research and help to improve the quality of life for teenage cancer patients during their frequent stays in hospitals. These stays can often involve youngsters travelling far from family, home and friends to receive harsh and invasive treatments, as well as no longer being able to attend school, college or university. As a result, many face mobility and dexterity challenges, as well as social isolation.

Jacob, now an ambassador of the trust, was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma, a form of bone cancer, in his right femur. The six months of harsh chemotherapy treatment he endured led to infections, meaning that Jacob spent weeks at a time in hospital, isolated from his friends.

The trust provide resource and support for these young people – from giving gifts at birthdays and Christmas, to providing laptops and iPads which help with distraction during painful and difficult processes. Global’s Make Some Noise is delighted to be able to award a grant to the trust, which will help to cover the costs of these resources.

Jacob told us: “After having spent the 2 weeks before Christmas isolated in a room by myself, it was a great relief to receive the vouchers for online shops. It may sound strange, but the thing I was worrying about mostly wasn’t the fact I wouldn’t be receiving presents, but that I couldn’t be out there buying presents for other people.

In a year full of your life being taken away from you, you want to do anything that makes other people feel you are normal. And thankfully, with the voucher there was enough to buy presents for others, as well as a little treat for myself – all of which could still occur from my isolated room on the ward. In a way, the gift that I received from The Laura Crane Youth Cancer Trust not only gave me material items, but allowed me to get into the Christmas spirit; even when my body wasn’t up to it.”

Find out more about The Laura Crane Youth Cancer Trust here.

Global’s Make Some Noise is a national charity that helps to change young lives, brought to you by eight of the best-loved commercial radio stations in the UK: Heart, Capital, Capital XTRA, Classic FM, Smooth, LBC, Radio X and Gold.