May 13th 2024.
Stephen Sutton had a goal - to raise £10,000 for the Teenage Cancer Trust. But little did he know that his determination and courage would inspire people across the UK to donate over £6,000,000 in his memory. A decade has passed since Stephen bid farewell, but his legacy lives on through the incredible impact he has made.
At the young age of 15, Stephen was diagnosed with colorectal cancer. Despite his diagnosis, he refused to let it hold him back. He chronicled his journey on his blog, Stephen's Story, and even managed to raise £10,000 for charity. He also ticked off 35 items from his bucket list of 46, including playing drums in front of 90,000 people at Wembley and speaking about his journey at 10 Downing Street.
Back then, Stephen had just over 58,000 followers on Facebook. But now, that number has grown to over a million. And in his memory, over £6,000,000 has been raised for the Teenage Cancer Trust, which has helped to upgrade specialist hospital units, raise awareness of cancer symptoms in young people, and hold events to connect young cancer patients and reduce their isolation.
Stephen's mother, Jane, has always been in awe of her son's bravery. She says that there will always be a Stephen-shaped hole in her heart, but knowing that he has changed the lives of thousands of other young people with cancer brings her some comfort. Stephen truly appreciated the support he received from the Teenage Cancer Trust during his illness and was aware that not every young person was fortunate enough to receive their help.
As the number of followers on his Facebook page continues to grow, so does the number of young people being diagnosed with cancer. When Stephen passed away, only seven young people per day were diagnosed. But it is expected to reach 10 per day by 2030. However, Stephen and his mother always focused on the positive and even requested that people wear yellow instead of black to his funeral.
In honor of Stephen's memory, his mother Jane has launched a new nationwide fundraising campaign with a goal of raising £300,000, enough to fund an extra 10,000 hours of expert care and support for young cancer patients. She will be embarking on a series of 16 challenges across the UK, covering each region where the Teenage Cancer Trust funds specialist cancer units.
Stephen received care from three of these units during his four-year battle with cancer. And just like her son, Jane wants all young people diagnosed with cancer to have access to the same support and services that the Teenage Cancer Trust offers. She is determined to continue fundraising until this becomes a reality.
Kate Collins, chief executive of the Teenage Cancer Trust, says that Stephen's legacy continues to make an extraordinary difference. He shone a light on the needs of young people with cancer and inspired thousands to support the charity. Even after his passing, his mother Jane remains committed to his legacy and helping the charity expand its work.
Roger Daltrey, lead singer of The Who and honorary patron of the charity, pays tribute to Stephen's incredible courage and spirit. He says that Stephen's determination to live life to the fullest and make a difference to others is something he achieved without a doubt.
As we see the impact that Stephen has made and continues to make, it's clear that he truly measured life in terms of making a difference. And with the support of his mother and everyone who has been inspired by him, young people with cancer can face their journey with the support and care they deserve.
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