| Biography | Teenage Cancer Trust is a charity that focuses on the needs of teenagers and young adults with cancer, leukaemia, Hodgkins and related diseases by providing specialist teenage units in NHS hospitals. The units are dedicated areas for teenage patients, who are involved in their concept and creation. Medical facilities on the units are colourful and vibrant environments, equipped with computers, TVs, game consoles designed to be places where friends and family feel comfortable to visit.
To date, the charity has built 16 units in London, Leeds, Liverpool, Birmingham, Sheffield, Newcastle, Manchester, Glasgow, Southampton, Edinburgh, Cardiff and Wirral. The charity anticipates that the concentration of medical expertise within these units can improve chances of recovery by 15%. Units cost over £2million each to build and Teenage Cancer Trust aims to complete at least 22 units in the UK by 2012 so that every teenager and young adult with cancer in the UK has access to these facilities.
The charity also serves as an advocate for teenage cancer needs, becoming instrumental in the establishment of related research and national and international forums. It also provides support services and education related to teen cancer.
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