My Story

Every day, seven young people aged 13–24 hear the words “you have cancer.”

When I was 15, I was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer called Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis (LCH). After a few weeks of scans and symptoms like a watery eye, double vision, and pressure behind my eye, doctors discovered a benign tumour—about the size of a golf ball—behind my left eye.

A few weeks later, my oncologist told me I’d need a year of chemotherapy. I was then asked which charity ward I wanted to receive my treatment under. Even though I was right on the threshold of the age range, I chose the Teenage Cancer Trust ward—and I’m so glad I did.

No 15-year-old wants to spend every Friday hooked up to chemotherapy as part of an intensive six-week treatment course, but from the moment I arrived, I knew I was in the right place. The nurses and staff made such a difference. They helped me feel like a normal teenager and constantly reminded me that this was just a moment in time—and that things would get better.

2026 will mark 10 years since my first dose of treatment — 9 years of living cancer-free, thanks to the incredible team at Teenage Cancer Trust.

In 2021, I was lucky enough to run with my family in support of this amazing charity. But in April 2026, I’ll be running on my own—taking on one of my biggest challenges yet—to give something back to the people who helped me when I needed it most.

Please support this incredible charity by donating whatever you can, so they can keep doing what they do best—helping teenagers and young people live the lives they deserve.

Finn xx