‘I felt fed up with a journey I didn’t ask for. No child should have to know what the word ‘cancer’ means. Looking back, I can’t believe I was so strong. But I had to be, I had no other choice.’
That’s what teenager Ruby-Jo Sneed told Metro in the first interview of our 2024 Lifeline campaign, back in January. ‘It’s important that as young people we speak out and get the support we deserve,’ the 17-year-old added.
Each year, Metro teams up with a charity to raise vital funds and help highlight its invaluable work, and in 2024, Young Lives vs Cancer was our chosen charity.
Every day staff and volunteers support families from the moment the doctor says ‘it’s cancer’, while financial grants are also an integral part of their work; especially for families who have had to choose ‘between paying bills or buying food’ after a cancer diagnosis.
With a series of hard-hitting articles and first-person pieces, we learned the true reality of what happens when a young person has their life up-rooted. Ainsley Foster, who was 21 when he was diagnosed with cancer, likened his Young Lives vs Cancer support worker Eve to a ‘second mum’ in helping him throughout the whole ordeal.
Alongside raising awareness through stories, we also called on Metro readers, staff and charity’s supporters to take on a mammoth 58km trek across the Jurassic Coast in Dorset to raise as much money as possible for Young Lives vs Cancer.
On the day, our fundraisers fell victim to an unexpected storm and bravely battled through ‘rivers of mud.’, but it was all worth it as we can now share that the our 2024 Lifeline challenge has raised £26,317 for Young Lives vs Cancer.
The life-changing amount could provide 263 families with a financial grant to transform their cancer journey. They might use it on household bills, put it towards transport costs to hospital appointments or use it to buy new clothes for children with cancer whose weight frequently fluctuates.
Rachel Kirby-Rider, chief executive at Young Lives vs Cancer told : ‘We want to say a huge thank you to the team at Metro for partnering with Young Lives vs Cancer earlier this year, and everyone who took on the Jurassic Coast trek.
‘As a charity, we rely on the kindness of supporters to continue to be there for children and young people with cancer and their families, so the money raised from Metro’s Lifeline Campaign has made a huge difference to those we are here to support.’
Talking about this year’s Lifeline, Metro’s Deputy Editor Claie Wilson said: ‘Knowing that the money raised will help so many families dealing with the horrendous reality of a cancer diagnosis is why this campaign is so important to Metro.
‘Working with Young Lives vs Cancer throughout 2024 and sharing the stories of the families they have helped has been a real privilege.
Read our 2024 Lifeline stories here.
- Shaima Ali explained how doctors dismissed her four-year-old’s neck pain until she said these 5 words
- Jasmin Sarll revealed the financial anxiety which comes with a child’s cancer diagnosis
- Ainsley Foster shared how he was diagnosed with a brain tumour just two weeks after cancer took his dad
- Victoria Andrews told us about her son’s ‘swollen tummy’ symptom which doctors ignored
- Abi Holly told us how she was distraught when she got a phone call to say she was cancer-free
- Amy Chilton recalled how she was ‘let down’ by the healthcare system
- Ruby Jo-Sneed went to prom and juggled school three weeks after finding out she had cancer
‘We’re just glad to be able to help them in some way so they can help those who need their support.’
While our 2024 Lifeline campaign is coming to an end, plans are already underway for next year, which will see a brand new charity partnership and exciting new challenge.
As well as Young Lives vs Cancer, Metro has supported suicide prevention charity PAPYRUS and anti-poverty charity The Hygiene Bank with over £120,000 raised throughout our Lifelines campaigns.
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