Youth Ambassadors

Hi I am Natalie; I currently live in the Lake District but originally from Liverpool.

I was diagnosed with ALL leukaemia as a young teenager and treated at Alder Hey Hospital.

I found being ill at such a life changing age hard and isolating from friends. I came across a poster for the Youth Cancer Trust in the outpatient waiting room and at first thought there is no way I could do those activities but after a few weeks I called up and arranged my first holiday with my sister as my plus 1 and I am so glad I did…it was nothing like I first feared.

The house is such a warming place, with no one pushing you to do anything you don’t want to, instead encouraging and reminding you, you are more able than you believe.

Everyone understands each other’s troubles and it’s such a relaxing fun environment, where you meet loads of other wonderful, courageous people who you can call friends for life.

I am off treatment now, and still enjoy my breaks to the YCT house and the online interaction (since Covid.) This has been a great way to stay in touch and provide support in a fun way to each other.

I’ve met some lifelong friends along the way (including my fiancé who was his sister’s plus 1).

A little about me – I am a trained aromatherapist and beautician and I’ve recently got into sewing. I am very much a people’s person and have took part in lots of fundraising events to unite people and create essential funding for the YCT at the same time, the more unusual the better…live is for enjoying after all.  

My favourite saying is “When it rains look for rainbows and when it’s dark look for stars.”

Hi my name is Arnie Higgs and i’m into many things like playing pool, going to golf every weekend, spending time with my family. I love imagining ideas and designs for houses and buildings as I like interior design. I love my dogs too.

My favourite activity at Youth Cancer Trust is watersports. I love to laugh and joke that I can’t do it. But I literally cannot do it! but I love making everyone laugh, it’s a great crack.

I have many heroes from Arnold Schwarzenegger to Sylvester Stallone, but my number one hero is my brother I always look up at him and he’s always there for me. He is Bill Millar Staff Sergeant for the Army Air corps based in Andover.

My favourite quote is: “Today the devil whispered in my ear and said you’re too weak to withstand the storm… today I whispered in the devils ear “I AM THE STORM”.

Hi I’m Liv Payne, I’m into spending my time looking after disability children and making them smile, which is my main job role as a Aba tutor as well .

My favourite YCT activity is go-karting as I love the thrill going round the course and trying to beat everyone’s score times.

My hero is my Fiancé, Arnie, he has taught me a lot of things about life and made me a stronger person.

My favourite quotes is: “Beauty begins the moment you decide to be yourself”.

I’m a Beaver Scout leader, I love walking and keeping fit and trying new things. Of course I absolutely love shopping I’m a magnet to shops.

My favourite activities at YCT were water sports, although I can’t do them now it was still my favourite and just spending time with everyone at YCT relaxing in a happy place

My heroes are mum, dad and fiancé David who care for me so much and my surgeon.

My phrases are “crack on” and “I can do this”.

Hi my names Eloise, I’m 19 years old and have been coming to the YCT since I was 14! 

I was diagnosed with a rare type of sarcoma when I was a child, which unfortunately left me with long lasting problems primarily affecting the use of my left side as well as some of my organs! 

The youth cancer trust opened so many doors for me and allowed me to make memories which are accessible for me! I’m able to meet people who have similar experiences without any pressure! 

I live on the Devon and Cornwall border with my mum and little sister, and i have the most amazing long haired Persian cat called Freddy! I spend most of my time cooking and baking as well as studying medicine! 

I really enjoy anything to do with music as-well as new crafts! i also (pre pandemic) am part of a wheelchair basketball team!

My favourite food would definitely have to be anything to do with pasta. I’m a sucker for savoury snacks like crisps. I love all types of music but acoustic pop has to be my favourite! 

My friends would defiantly describe me as fun loving, kind and smiley as well as a little bit mad!!

I’ve been a YCT ambassador for the last couple of years and have loved every second of it. I can’t wait to talk to and hopefully meet some of you, and listen to any ideas you may have! I’m always up for a chat and can’t wait to hear about some of you! 

Hey, I’m peter one of the YCT youth ambassadors! I live in Kent which is about 150 miles away from YCT!

I have recently changed jobs to become a trainer/assessor primarily in construction but other industries too, reason for my change was because I wanted to spend more time at home with my new born baby ( 7 months old now)

1 weeks after my 19th birthday ( 1 weeks before Christmas) I was diagnosed with bladder cancer, i feel very lucky with the type of cancer I got as we could easily treat it with less side effect, I had the cancer removed from my bladder but 3-6months later it had returned, I then had 12 weeks of chemo directed in to my bladder, again I feel lucky because it meant I had less side effects, I was also lucky that my boss at the time was very understanding and helped me by giving me lighter duty’s. I knew In my head for sometime I had cancer but I just never went to the doctors because I was too private and embarrassed I guess but when it got too bad I felt I had to.

I’m loving being a youth cancer ambassador and if anyone feels worried about YCT or anything else then please feel free to message or call me for a chat, even if your just feeling a little worried about YCT, because that’s okay but I can ensure you YCT is amazing and you will love it and the new family it comes with!

YCT is amazing! I have made many friends there and all the team that work so hard giving young people a break are awesome, they will do anything and everything they can to make your time there the best it can be, it’s the only place where you can be surrounded by people who have gone through something similar and you can just relax and have an awesome time. The house is so warming and you can just be your self no matter how loopy you are or how sad your feeling, or emotional, or happy, no matter who you are or what your going through you can feel at home there with people around you to support you.

I’m into cars, travelling, reading, cycling and my favourite colour is purple.

My heroes are my parents who started from the very bottom and have managed to build an amazing life for us.

My favourite saying is: “It’s the repetition of affirmations that leads to belief. And once that belief becomes a deep conviction, things begin to happen”. And also I like this one: “Don’t count the days, make the days count”.

Hi my name is Kingsley and I’m into things like; music, travelling, keeping fit, socialising, meeting new people and most of all I love cooking and food.

I enjoy all the YCT activities but if I had to choose I would say food week, water sports, visiting the fudge shop to try new fudges and most of all go karting because I’m quite competitive.

My mum is my hero because she has been with me through thick and thin and made me a stronger person. I still don’t like the fact that she hasn’t shared her secret recipes with me though ?.

My favourite quote/saying is: “I know it seems hard sometimes but remember one thing. Through every dark night, there’s a bright day after that. So no matter how hard it gets, stick your chest out, keep your head up…. and handle it”.

I am currently a full time athlete and love anything outdoors. I am also a BSc Biomedical Health student and love keeping up to date with what’s happening in the world of science.

When I am not training or studying, I like seeing my friends and family and love listening to music. I am a massive dog person and it is impossible for me to be near a dog and not say hello.

I don’t have a specific favourite YCT activity, I just love any of the water based activities; wake boarding, fast sight seeing speed boat trips and the out door inflatable course.

I don’t necessarily have a favourite quote but I believe that if you want to achieve something, you have to work for it and that you can achieve anything that you sent your mind to.

I am currently a Breakdown Controller at Zenith, which involves me managing the stages of roadside & onsite breakdowns for home shopping vehicles, HGV’s and cash vehicles! I am part of a small team but we all get om great! I spend my freetime watching sports such as football, boxing, and rugby. I also am a big gamer playing on my PS5 and switch mostly!

My favourite activity that I have done at the new location was archery! This is because I like archery and always will participate given the chance.

The main idol in my life is Steve Irwin and from a very young age I watched him on TV and read his books as his passion for helping all animals is something I have always shared! He was a truly astonishing person who had a massive affect on the way people see wildlife to this day!

My favourite phrase is “Sometimes later becomes never. Do it now!” This is my favourite phrase because I believe everyone has stuff they want to do in life and everyone deserves to spoil themselves, so instead of saying tomorrow or next week or even next year do it now!