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Simon Creedy

WHEN 23-year-old Simon Creedy went to the doctor with stomachache he had no idea that he was about to get devastating news that would change his life.

The yachting instructor from the Isle of Wight was told he had leukaemia and immediately taken to Southampton General Hospital where he was treated for a year.

Simon, now 24, became involved with Teenage Cancer Trust when he had gone into remission.

He said: "I found that when I was in hospital I often felt alone and that most of the other patients were a lot older than me.

"I think it's really important to do everything that can be done to help young people with cancer and keep their spirits up."

Your money and support will mean that Teenage Cancer Trust can build a number of facilities at Southampton University Hospitals' NHS Trust over the next few years.

The charity is investing in an interim facility, providing two designated beds for teenagers and young adults. This will be followed by the development of two bone-marrow transplant beds within a new haematology unit.

TCT will then start work on a new purpose-built unit which will form part of the Oncology Centre at the hospital. This will provide teenagers and young adults in the south with the very best facilities, in line with other TCT units across the country.

TCT units are not like ordinary hospital wards. Instead, they provide teenagers with an environment where they can get on with being teenagers. At the same time, patients are provided with the best possible medical treatment in a recognised centre of excellence.

Teenagers and young people are consulted to help design and create these special units. As well as superior medical facilities they have day rooms, kitchens, chill-out rooms and, where possible, gardens where patients can relax and feel at home.

There are computers with Internet access, pool tables, PlayStations, satellite TV, musical instruments - normal things that all teenagers should be able to enjoy. The set-up of the units also makes it easier for family and friends to visit, with warm and friendly communal areas and no restricted visiting hours.

Most importantly, the units provide an environment where teenagers and young adults with cancer can meet others their age who are going through the same experience and provide support for one another.

To make a donation visit justgiving.com/ tctsouthofenglandappeal

11:24am Tuesday 15th July 2008

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