Hampshire FA staff members will be taking on Challenge 80 in support of charity partners, Young Lives vs Cancer, with a shared 80-mile walk taking place on Wednesday 25th of October. Hampshire FA staff will be putting on their walking boots/shoes, and undertaking a route around Portsmouth in the hope to raise funds for the charity and support the campaign. 

Staff members partaking in the challenge include:

Denis Brzozowski
Chris Smith
Pedro Viveiros
Alienor Chartier
Declan Hellyer
Isabella Pearson

Why Challenge 80?

Young cancer patients face an 80 mile round trip, on average, to get treatment. This isn't by choice. Many young cancer patients have to travel to specialist cancer centres to get the care they need, they can't always just go to their local hospital. Southampton Hospital has a large catchment area for young cancer patients including the Channel Islands and the Isle of Wight. 

Not only is this physically and emotionally exhausting, it comes with a huge financial cost too. It costs £250 a month when treatment is at its most intense. As treatment can go on for years, young people and families are often plunged into debt.

Donate to Hampshire FA's Challenge

WHO ARE YOUNG LIVES VS CANCER:

When a child is diagnosed with cancer it threatens everything, for them and their family. At a time when they should be busy being children, enjoying their rollercoaster teenage years or finding their feet at uni, life becomes full of fear. Fear of treatment, but also of families being torn apart, of overwhelming money worries, mental health stretched to breaking point, of having nowhere to turn, no one to talk to.

At Young Lives vs Cancer, we get that. We are the charity that helps children and young people (0-25) and their families find the strength to face whatever cancer throws at them. We know everyone’s different, so we work hard to make sure each family has what they need to get through cancer. It could be a financial grant for a parent struggling to keep their child warm through their treatment or for a young person who can’t afford to get to hospital. Or helping a family stay together at one of our free Homes from Home close to the hospital where their child is having treatment. And if we think families aren’t being heard by the whole system, we’re not afraid to raise their voices or shout on their behalf. Children and young people with cancer deserve the same opportunities as anyone else. We’ll always have their back, because we’ve been there before. Powered by the kindness of our supporters, we’ll face it all together.