Every day, 12 more children and young people under the age of 25 hear the devastating news that they have cancer. At Young Lives vs Cancer, we help them and their families to find the strength to face whatever cancer throws at them – but we can’t do that without the help of incredible fundraisers like you.

Find out why Sam would love you to join Team Young Lives at the 2022 TCS London Marathon.

“I’m Sam, and at the age of 19 I was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma after finding a lump in my neck. I didn’t know what any of this meant or what the future held.

“Within days of my diagnosis, I had a call from Jane, a Young Lives vs Cancer Social Worker. When she visited our home, Jane lit up the room that had felt very dark since my diagnosis.

“Jane helped us apply for financial aid and helped me explain all this scary stuff to my little sisters. Nothing was too much for Jane! She made us cry with laughter all the time. She really made a difference to my treatment and my mindset. My mum has since described her help as the hug she didn’t realise she needed, and a guiding light through the darkest hour.

“If it takes running a marathon to make sure social workers like Jane can continue their valuable work, then I’ll lace up my trainers any day for them! That’s why I decided to join Team Young Lives and take on the TCS London Marathon this October – and I would love you to join me. With your place, you can make sure that children and young people facing cancer, and their families, can get the support they need, just like I did.”

When a child or young person like Sam is diagnosed with cancer it threatens everything – for them and their family – and life becomes full of fear. Fear of treatment, but also of families being torn apart, of overwhelming money worries, of mental health being stretched to breaking point, of having nowhere to turn and nobody to talk to. At Young Lives vs Cancer, we get that, and work hard to ensure that every family has what it needs to get through cancer. Powered by the kindness of our supporters, we were able to support 6,547 children and young people last year.

As a member of Team Young Lives you’ll have no minimum fundraising target – we simply ask that you raise as much as you can. To thank you for joining us, we will shower you with support, advice and motivation and give you access to our online training zone and exclusive Facebook group where you can meet the rest of the 2022 team. We’ll also give you a snazzy personalised running vest, the loudest and proudest cheers along the route and a well-deserved massage after the event to get you ready for our massive post-marathon party.

Join Sam and Team Young Lives at the Start Line of the TCS London Marathon and use your running miles to make a difference to young cancer patients. To find out more, click here.