Teenage Cancer Trust Addresses Guildford Businessmen

Published on: 10 Sep, 2012
Updated on: 10 Sep, 2012

Anna Wemyss presenting to Surrey’s BEST Business Group

Six teenagers are diagnosed with cancer every day in Great Britain, Teenage Cancer Trust (TCT) told Surrey’s BEST Business Group at the YMCA last week.

Anna Wemyss, TCT Regional Fund-raiser for the South East showed a moving film of teenages who had been diagnosed with cancer. The teenagers stressed how they valued having their own unit in a hospital to give each other vital support while fighting the disease.

The group saw a moving film on the treatment of teenage cancer patients and the specialised facilities they require

And now Guildford-based pharmaceutical company, SANOFI, is holding a fund-raising black tie Diamond Ball at the Mandolay Hotel in the town, which will include a three-course dinner, music, special guests, a raffle and an auction. This takes place on Friday 9^th November.

SANOFI inspires is aiming to raise £100,000 this year for the Trust and has planned a programme of events with staff to achieve this.

The funds pay for specialist spaces like the £3.5 million Teenage Cancer Unit opened at Surrey’s Royal Marsden Hospital in January. This has 13 bedrooms, a recreation area with juke box, pool table, a kitchenette and an Education Room.

This is used for workshops in music, crafts and jewellery, and there are also a Teacher Unit and Parents’ Room. The Royal Marsden takes teenagers from Surrey, Kent, Sussex and Berkshire and funding also pays for a Youth Support Co-ordinator and a Lead Nurse Consultant.

“It was great to meet 22 local businesses and share the work of Teenage Cancer Trust,” says Anna, “BEST gave me a really warm welcome and I hope that many of the members will be able to join us for the Ball in November.”

Laurie Rogers, acting Chairman of BEST, adds: “It was deeply moving to see the teenagers on the film and we greatly admire the wonderful work of TCT, which is the only charity in the UK which focuses solely on teenagers. So, I’m delighted the breakfast immediately sold 12 tickets for the Ball and I hope more members will buy some too.”

For tickets please write to: gb-diamondball@sanofi.com

TCT is at: www.teenagecancertrust.org

SANOFI inspires is at: www.Sanofi-Inspires.co.uk

Media enquiries on this BEST release, please, to PNPR at www.pnprltd.com and T. 01483 82 44 58.

About Sanofi Inspires

Sanofi Inspires is a call to everyone to realise their potential. In 2012, a key component of the Sanofi Inspires programme is The Sanofi Challenge which aims to inspire and empower everyone to realise their potential by challenging themselves to go the extra mile. The Sanofi Challenge is centred around health and fitness activities, promoting wellbeing and personal growth.

The Sanofi Challenge is an all inclusive employee engagement programme in support of Teenage Cancer Trust, our chosen charity partner. Every £100 raised will add one mile towards our

1000 mile challenge total, thereby raising £100, 000 for Teenage Cancer Trust.

The Sanofi Challenge is open to Sanofi (www.sanofi.co.uk), Merial (http://uk.merial.com/) and Genzyme (http://www.genzyme.co.uk/) employees, friends, family and absolutely anyone who would like to challenge themselves to go the extra mile for Teenage Cancer Trust, our chosen charity partner.

About Teenage Cancer Trust

Every day in the UK, six young people are told they have cancer. Usually placed on a children’s ward or with elderly patients, young people often feel extremely isolated whilst being treated for cancer.

Teenage Cancer Trust believes young people shouldn’t stop being teenagers just because they have cancer. So the charity builds units in NHS hospitals that offer young people specialist care, bringing them together so they can support each other in an environment suited to their needs. As well as specialist units, Teenage Cancer Trust also funds a number of services all with the same goal – to help young people fight cancer. These include clinical and research staff, an education programme for schools, family support networks and an annual conference for young cancer patients.

Money raised by The Sanofi Challenge will go towards providing these essential services for young people with cancer across the country. Teenage Cancer Trust is a registered charity: 1062559 (England & Wales); SC039757 (Scotland)

About Sanofi

Sanofi, a global and diversified healthcare leader, discovers, develops and distributes therapeutic solutions focused on patients’ needs. Sanofi has core strengths in the field of healthcare with seven growth platforms: diabetes solutions, human vaccines, innovative drugs, rare diseases, consumer healthcare, emerging markets and animal health. Sanofi is listed in Paris (EURONEXT: SAN) and in New York (NYSE: SNY). www.sanofi.com