On the 21st June 2021, I was diagnosed with Hodgkin Lymphoma a type of blood cancer affecting just 3 in every 100,000 people. Being only the age of 19 this of course came as quite a shock to myself and those close to me.

In the time after my diagnosis, I was hesitant to read into the disease on the internet, after advice from doctors that I could come across horror stories focusing on the negative side of the illness and poor treatment outcomes. In came Lymphoma Action, I was given a book made by the charity by a nurse at my local hospital. It explained more about the cancer and contained stories from people diagnosed at a similar age to me that have thankfully made a full recovery. It also went into detail about possible treatments and side effects. Having some reliable information really helped to put my mind at ease over the first few weeks, which for me were the most difficult time.

I am now seeing specialists at the UCLH teenage and young adult cancer unit and really feel in safe hands. I have started my treatment and am looking forward to life getting back to normal.

I have set up this page so that it can be used by friends and family completing challenges, like sponsored shaves or runs, or just for people to donate to a great cause.

Here are some examples of how money raised can help this great charity:

£5 could help us ensure that the latest expert lymphoma information is immediately available to anyone who visits our website.

£10 could help us send out award winning information booklets to newly diagnosed patients to give them a better understanding of their disease and of the support available. (This is what I was given when I was diagnosed)

£20 could help pay for an hour of dedicated helpline support, enabling our experienced team to be there for patients, carers and anyone affected by lymphoma.

£40 could help fund a dedicated workshop to empower people affected by lymphoma to manage day-to-day and live well beyond their cancer.

£70 could enable us to identify, research and add a new clinical trial to our online Lymphoma TrialsLink database, to help ensure that everyone eligible for a life-saving clinical trial is given access to one.

£75 could help pay for a nurse to attend a lymphoma specific study day so they can keep up-to-date with all aspects of lymphoma treatment and provide the best possible care for their patients.

£100 could help us campaign to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of lymphoma, encouraging earlier diagnosis and raising the profile of the disease.