Youth Cancer Trust
What they do Youth Cancer Trust provides support and free activity holidays based at Tracy Ann House in Bournemouth. It
Trips, Events & Wishes for children and families
It often seems that children with cancer are much better served by charities offering free trips and events than people living with FA, even though both may involve similar treatment.
However, many cancer charities do support people with FA even if it is isn’t always obvious. For example, people with FA have been on trips and events run by the Youth Cancer Trust, the Teenage Cancer Trust, the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust and Clic Sargent.
What’s on offer is a vast range of free trips events and wishes, which in stressful times can make a huge difference to the wellbeing of the whole family.
Here are a few examples: trips to Disneyland and Universal Studios in the US and Paris, short holidays in locations of your choice, activity centres and caravans around the UK and elsewhere, concerts in the O2, sailing and other activity holidays, activity camps for the whole family, wishes that you dream up (e.g. meeting Dr Who!), Legoland visits and more.
Trips, wishes and events you could apply for:
When you Wish upon a Star
What they do Their aim is to grant the ‘Wishes’ of children suffering from a life-threatening illness. Each day brings
Starlight
What they do Starlight grants personalised wishes for children who are suffering from a life-threatening or life-shortening illness. When granting
Make a Wish
What they do They create life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. Whether it’s starring in their own films, walking
Rays of Sunshine
What they do Rays of Sunshine is an award-winning national charity that brightens the lives of seriously ill young people
Teens Unite
What they do Through workshops, activity days and residential stays, Teens Unite provides the ongoing social, emotional and physical support
Teenage Cancer Trust
What they do Young people with cancer need specialised nursing care and support. We create worldclass cancer services for young
Merlin’s Magic Wand
What they do The Charity makes FUN accessible to children with Magical Days Out providing tickets and contributing towards a
Dreamflight
What they do Dreamflight is a registered UK charity that changes young lives through taking children with a serious illness
The Ellen Macarthur Trust
What they do The Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust is a registered charity set up with its main aim to help
Sometimes you can apply direct, sometimes you have to be referred.
In many cases the eligible age range is very flexible, particularly if you have been on a trip with that organisation before. For example, there are adults with FA in their 20’s attending Teenage Cancer Trust events.
Some trips and holidays are available anytime and others are scheduled.
Sometimes eligibility is contingent on having had a bone marrow transplant, but by no means always. Fanconi Hope has had some success in the past in convincing cancer charities that our community should be eligible by contacting Head Offices directly, when local charity branches had said no.
Some events, trips and holidays are for people with FA only, some (such as Over the Wall) include siblings and some are for whole families.
Some major charities such as Starlight or Make a Wish will not grant wishes if another organisation has been used previously, so you need to apply to them first!