Stephen Sutton: 10 years on and £6m raised for cancer charity

Today (14 May) marks 10 years since inspirational teenage fundraiser Stephen Sutton MBE died of cancer aged just 19.

The 19-year-old, from Burntwood in Staffordshire, captured the hearts of the nation with his positivity in the face of adversity, his bucket list and viral ‘last thumbs up’ photo from his hospital bed.

It was this outlook on life which spurred millions of pounds worth of donations to the Teenage Cancer Trust, which supported Stephen through four years of treatment.

The total raised by Stephen, and in his memory, has now reached an incredible £6m.

Stephen's mum, Jane said: “After Stephen’s diagnosis of incurable cancer, I was in awe of his bravery.

"His bucket list of the 46 things he wanted to do typified Stephen, ranging from raising £10,000 for Teenage Cancer Trust to hugging an animal bigger than him, to crowd surfing in a yellow dinghy! He was determined to squeeze every drop of joy out of life.

“There will always be a Stephen-shaped hole in my heart, and I miss him every day. But knowing that he has changed the lives of thousands of other young people with cancer for the better, and that he’s still making a difference to others, which is all he ever wanted to do, brings some comfort."

“Stephen really did appreciate Teenage Cancer Trust being there for him during his illness, and he was very aware that not every young person can get the charity’s support, which was why the fundraising aspect of his bucket list became so important to him.

“So today I’d like to say a huge and heartfelt thank you to everyone who supported Stephen’s fundraising all those years ago, and to the people who have donated or fundraised in his memory since he passed."

To mark the 10th anniversary, Jane will taking on 16 fundraising challenges inspired by Stephen, which will cover every region in the UK where the Teenage Cancer Trust funds specialist units.

She is determined to raise £300,000, which could help fund an additional 10,000 hours of expert care and support for young people with cancer.

Her first challenge will take place at Noah’s Art Zoo Farm in Bristol on 22 May where she will be reunited with Sutton the elephant, named after Stephen.

Hugging an animal larger than himself was on Stephen’s bucket list, and Sutton, now 10, is the son of the elephant he got the chance to hug.

Animal-lover Jane will be taking part in an elephant poo shovelling challenge, which she thinks Stephen would have found ‘hilarious’.

Kate Collins, Chief Executive, Teenage Cancer Trust, said: "Stephen himself said 'I don't see the point in measuring life in terms of time anymore, I'd rather measure life in terms of making a difference' and the difference he - and everyone who has been inspired by him - continues to make is extraordinary.

“Stephen shone the brightest of lights on the needs of young people with cancer, inspiring thousands of people to support us and helping Teenage Cancer Trust to expand our work.

“Young people with cancer need our support now more than ever and his mum Jane's commitment to continuing his legacy by helping us continue our work is as extraordinary as Stephen was.

“We are all so grateful to Stephen, to Jane and to everyone who helps make sure young people don't face cancer alone by donating to our work."

To date, the money raised through Stephen's legacy has helped the Teenage Cancer Trust fund:

• £2.87m spent refurbishing and upgrading its hospital units within NHS hospitals around the UK.
• £1.2m spent on educating and raising awareness of the early signs of cancer in young people.
• £975,000 spent on research and essential training for nursing and health care professionals supporting young people with cancer.
• £500,000 spent on improving information and online resources for young people with cancer.
• 140,000 spent on facilitating events that bring young people with cancer together, to reduce the sense of isolation a cancer diagnosis often brings.
• The remaining £315,000 spent by the charity wherever it has been needed most within its services.

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