Dancers dazzle to help their Rachelle in £8,000 boost for Teenage Cancer Trust

A Wolverhampton performing arts troupe has raised more than £8,000 after one of its young stars was diagnosed with cancer.

The team at Caroline Lewis Performing Arts School collected the cash pot for Teenage Cancer Trust after hosting a series of fundraisers.

The school decided to unite behind the cause after member Rachelle Tully started treatment at the Teenage Cancer Trust unit at Birmingham Children's Hospital last year.

Principal Caroline Smith said: "I remember the phone call from Rachelle's dad and the numb feeling and silence.

"The team quickly said that we must do something and this led to us all fundraising, supporting and being right by Rachelle’s side.”

Youngsters from the school put on a dazzling show and a sponsored sky dive was also organised, helping to raise £8,856 after generous match funding from Lloyds Bank.

Cash donated will help the charity support young people aged 13 to 24 battling cancer across the West Midlands.

Rachelle and her family have been left amazed by the support from her dance school and Teenage Cancer Trust.

The 13-year-old from Wolverhampton said: "On The Teenage Cancer Trust ward, all my friends were able to come and see me. It gave us an area where I could get away from my family and just sit with my friends and talk about normal stuff. It gave me my independence to still feel like a teenager.”

The charity, which needs more than £20 million each year, works in partnership with the NHS to provide expert staff and specialist units in principal treatment centres for cancer.

This means youngsters can be cared for alongside their peers also battling cancer rather than on a hospital ward, where they may not meet another young person.

About seven young people are diagnosed with cancer every day in the UK, the charity said.

Teenage Cancer Trust regional fundraiser Louise Walker said: "We’ve been so impressed with the incredible enthusiasm of Caroline and her students, and we’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone who took part.

"This money will go towards desperately needed services for local young people with cancer.”

Teenage Cancer Trust opened it first unit at London's Middlesex Hospital after supporters raised £330,000 needed to fund it.

Now there are 28 specialist units in NHS hospital across the country, with 48 nurses and youth support staff on hand to help young people through their cancer treatment.

This includes at Birmingham Children's Hospital, where there is a six-bed inpatient unit, two clinical nurse specialists and one youth support coordinator.

At least 118,000 school pupils have also been reached through the charity's education programme, which sees its team travel the country to raise awareness of their work.