Vera Yu
Zip Wire for Stephen - Vera, Emma, Ro and Tracey (Team VERT)
Fundraising for Teenage Cancer Trust
Story
Stephen was an inspiration to so many people and we want to do him proud by hoping to move Stephen's fundraising total above £6 million through the support of the 'Zip Wire for Stephen' campaign.
To help reach this total Vera, Emma, Ro and Tracey (Team VERT) need to raise a minimum of £480 donations between us. We thank you in advance for supporting Teenage Cancer Trust.
Vera
I was very fortunate to have met Stephen and his mum, Jane, when my friends and I (the Pandemonium Drummers borne out of the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics) were invited to drum at Wembley Stadium for the UEFA Champions League Final 2013.
Stephen had a bucket list and No.23 was to 'Drum in front of a huge crowd'. So we invited Stephen to come and drum with us at Wembley Stadium to help him realise that dream. Since meeting Stephen and his mum, Jane, the Pandemonium Drummers have continued to be inspired by their fundraising efforts, zest for life and helping to keep Stephen's legacy alive whenever we can. We were honoured to be asked by Jane to drum leading Stephen's funeral cortège after the vigil for him at Lichfield Cathedral. In July 2016 we also recorded and released a charity single, 'Champion' (in collaboration with Felix Buxton of Basement Jaxx) with all proceeds in aid of Teenage Cancer Trust. The single is available to buy on all digital platforms.
Doing a zip wire at all, let alone the world's fastest zip wire, is completely out of my comfort zone. I'd normally be the one looking after the bags on a day out at a theme park so this is going to be a huge mental and physical challenge. They say you should do something, once in a while, that scares you and this terrifies me but it will be worth it!
Emma
Why have I agreed to do this with three of my favourite "partners in crime", even though we're definitely all old enough to know better? Because we're also wise enough to know life is for living, and fortunate enough to be able to do a little something to help others enjoy it too.
Stephen was a remarkable young man, and the Teenage Cancer Trust deserves all the support we can give them to help improve the survival chances and quality of life for young people diagnosed with cancer, so they can make their own crazy memories with friends!
Ro
Ro
It was thanks to a post shared by Vera that I found out about ‘Zip Wire for Stephen’. At that point she was simply publicising the event and offering to sponsor any of her friends mad enough to sign up for it. My immediate reaction was “I’m in” and it snowballed a little from there... until here we are. A quartet of friends who’ve shared a lot of experiences in the 12+ years since we first met, but it’s safe to say nothing quite like this!
I’m delighted to be the catalyst that will see the four of us throwing ourselves off a mountain. So to speak. And while I don’t have the personal connection with Stephen that Vera does, I remember well this remarkable young man and his story and it’s a privilege to be part of an event that both builds on his legacy and honours his memory.
On a more personal note, I ‘fly’ in memory of too many friends lost to this b*stard disease.
Tracey
After stepping into an enclosure in South Africa to pet a couple of cheetahs, holidaying in the wilds of the Scottish Highlands alone and paragliding in Turkey last year on my birthday - I like to think of myself as a little adventurous! When the opportunity came up to spend my birthday with my good friends, doing something adventurous this year (including maybe creating a world record) and raising some money for charity - I call that a win, win, win situation! :-)
Stephen is an inspiration to many people and in a world where almost everyone is touched by cancer, I'm happy to do what I can to try to fight this disease. Please give generously! There will probably be some horrendous pic for you to laugh at as a reward....where I'm screaming for my Mum and asking to be let off!
