The story of how MsMM started and how TCT fund-raising has developed in the area (Updated 01/03/2012 by Sheila Brazier)
It seems a long time since June 2002 when we had our first gig in the garden, hoping our friends would enjoy our acoustic music concert, and raising "a bit" of money for the Teenage Cancer Trust (TCT). We named this "Midsummer Music Madness" because it was summer and it was definitely madness to plan a back garden event in view of England's fickle weather! Please look around our website www.msmm.org.uk to see where this has led.
Although our plans to have a second concert the next year were curtailed because of a local objection, this proved to be the catalyst for our event to be moved to Brantingham Park, the home of our local Rugby Union club Hull Ionians – thus leading to Rugby Tackling Teenage Cancer.
We could never have anticipated how our "Madness" could have evolved, and how Rugby Tackling Teenage Cancer could be a significant fund-raiser for the Teenage Cancer Trust.
Hull FC recognised the significance of Rugby Tackling Teenage Cancer and invited us to become their charity of the year in 2009. This raised several thousand pounds for the charity, but perhaps more importantly, the profile of the Teenage Cancer Trust.
Their manufacturer for their strip and clothing, an Australian company ISC, were so impressed by Rugby Tackling Teenage Cancer that they provided, for no charge, a special strip for the charity game at Doncaster. Subsequently, these have been auctioned to raise money for the charity or have been used by our friends running marathons (including the Marathon des Sables – definitely not for the feint-hearted) or at other events. Please see www.rugbyttc.org for some of the unusual uses of our "roving away strip".
We have no doubt that Rugby Tackling Teenage Cancer will spread throughout Superleague and the "Union" within a few years.
Our ambitions for this, however, have been overtaken by the wonderful news that the Football Association, nationally, has adopted the Teenage Cancer Trust as their charity for the 2013/14 season. Whilst this will undoubtedly raise many thousands of pounds for the charity, perhaps as importantly, it will raise the profile of Teenage Cancer Trust and contact with thousands of young people.
We look forward to developing our contact with Hull City Association Football Club and wish them all the best for their Premiership ambitions.
Education has always been a very significant driver to the charity's work, and educating young people to eat and drink sensibly and not to smoke or use other dangerous substances. Equally, Teenage Cancer Trust promotes awareness of the effects of too much sunshine on the skin and the use of high factor sunscreen.
We are fortunate to have developed links with Hull College and other schools and colleges in the area and are very grateful for the help students have given us. The Teenage Cancer Trust's Education Officer is a very welcome visitor who visits each month to advise the students about Teenage Cancer Trust's health work and lumps and bumps. Lives and limbs have been saved!
Teenage Cancer Trust exists to address the particular problems of teenage and young adult cancer sufferers, recognising that being treated in a children's ward or alongside the elderly in adults' wards is not conducive to their well-being. The idea is to return as much control as possible to the teenagers, involving them in the management of their disease and their environment. The specialist units are designed for, and partly by teenagers - where young people can be together and have fun, as well as being given the best possible medical treatment. The cost of each unit is well over £1,000,000. The unit, which covers our area, is at St James' (Jimmy's) in Leeds.
Since 2002, our number one ambition has been to have a local facility so that young sufferers of the Big C may not have to travel to Leeds to have all their treatment. We have always wanted to have a local facility so that this could provide some respite. We were told that this could not happen and that we must accept that St James (Jimmy's) at Leeds would always be the centre of excellence.
We are proud to announce the opening of "our" ward at Castle Hill Hospital at Cottingham.
This is the only annexe to a main unit in the country and will be closely monitored to determine how sharing care (sharing the care of young Big C sufferers between a local facility and a main unit) will work. It is making a huge difference and has only happened because of the interest and action by local organisations in the area, especially the Freemasons.
Since our ward was opened and reported in the local media, we have been approached by many organisations wishing to support the Teenage Cancer Trust.
Our popular radio station, Viking FM, celebrated its silver anniversary and raised £80K towards the new ward at Castle Hill. This is fabulous. They continue to support the Teenage Cancer Trust.
The Rotary Club of Hull chose the Teenage Cancer Trust as their charity for the 2012 Humber Bridge Half Marathon and Fun Run. This took place on Sunday 24th June, and raised a very significant amount of money for our local ward. We were also chosen as a charity to be supported by the prestigious Classics in the Park concert.
We continue to be heartened by reports of balls, concerts and other events being organised to support our ward.
We intend to have our Midsummer Music Madness concert at Hull Rugby Union Football Club in the autumn this year to avoid clashing with summer events and celebrations. "Madness" can happen anytime!!
Auctions held during our concerts have always been a talking point. Ranging from tickets for Top Gear and the Millionaire programme to tea at the House of Commons with our MP and meals at top London restaurants, they have increased our profits very considerably. We accept the challenge to continue to provide unique and entertaining auction items! Your ideas are always welcome.
Many wonderful and inspirational things have happened since "Madness" was initially conceived. Amongst these we have to mention Ellen MacArthur, a friend of a friend. "Taking on the World" seems like a very good place to start. Taking "NO" for an answer is never the only option!
We feel certain that MIDSUMMER MUSIC MADNESS, RUGBY TACKLING TEENAGE CANCER and now FOOTBALL KICKING CANCER (F.K.C.) will make a difference for many years to come.
Thank you for reading this – welcome on board!
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