Applegreen Go The Extra Mile For Young Patients

Earlier this year we were delighted to welcome Applegreen as one of our charity partners.  Over the next two years, we will be working with its six forecourt stores across Northern Ireland to raise over £100,000 to provide vital nursing hours for young people with cancer.  People like 18 year old Sarah McCarroll from Lisburn, who is supported by Friends of the Cancer Centre’s Clinical Nurse Specialist for Teenagers and Young Adults, Renée Reid, after being diagnosed with cancer two years ago.  

“I was 16 when I was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. I was devastated.

“As I was 16, I was too old to be treated at the Children’s Hospital, so I was transferred to the Cancer Centre where adults receive their treatment. I was worried that an already tough time would be made even more difficult surrounded by people who were older than me.

“My worries were put at ease at my first appointment at the Cancer Centre when Renée met me and my family within minutes of arriving at the hospital.  As she specialises in working with people my age, Renée helped bridge the middle ground I found myself in.  She sat in on my appointments and made sure I understood what was happening at every stage of my treatment.  She was also just a text or phone call away if I needed anything. She included me in conversations and helped make me feel in control of what was happening.  She has been a vital part of my life and we now see her as part of the family. It has been a really difficult few years, but I’m coming through it all.  I was able to go back to school and finish my GCSEs which was a real milestone for me.

“Applegreen was also part of my cancer journey as we would stop there on my way to and from the Cancer Centre, so it’s great that they can play a part in other young people’s care by supporting nurses like Renée.”