Our team
Brenda Clark
Founder & President
Brenda founded the charity in 1997 and is now retired from running the holidays but takes on the role of President of Youth Cancer Trust
GeorgiE Hillman
Manager / Company Secretary
Contact Georgie if you have any queries about the Trust, Grants and legacies.
Wendy Parrott
Programme Co-ordinator
Wendy joined the Trust in 2012 as a volunteer and a year later became a member of the staff team. Since the start of the pandemic she has set up and runs the online programme, she also works on awareness campaigns.
Laura Hartley
Holidays Co-ordinator
Laura has been involved with the charity for many years and now, with the help of her therapy dog Spot, works managing the holidays and assisting Wendy with the online support activities.
Jo Bingham
Holidays Assistant Co-ordinator
Jo hosts the holidays with Laura and assists with administration and events. Jo is a mum of two (plus two dogs!) and has years of experience working with young people both in healthcare and a special school setting. For over ten years Jo volunteered on holidays for young people with cancer in the South West.
Ian Chalmers
Holidays Chef
Ian is a fantastic and experienced chef who caters for everyone during the holidays. Ian is happy to cater for any particular food requirements. Be prepared for some scrummy food!
Max Hillman
Trustee
Max has been involved with the Youth Cancer Trust since 2001 and is an invaluable friend and advisor to the charity, helping to steer it to where we are today. He remains a committed friend and advocate for us. In April 2012, Max was invited to be a trustee of the Youth Cancer Trust.
Josh Booth
Holidays
Josh and his family own and run the farm and houses you will be staying in. Josh is a dairy farmer and will be on hand to help support with the holidays and showing everyone around the farm.
Spot
Friend to everyone
Spot is Laura’s dog who stays with her during the holidays. Spot is a whippet and has a quiet temperament. He was previously a therapy dog.
However, if you’re nervous around dogs, or allergic, please let Laura know and Spot can happily stay with friends during your holiday.
Our trustees
Tamas Hickish – Chair of Trustees
Alec McQuin – Treasurer
Max Hillman
Fidelma McCarthy
Our ambassadors
Our ambassadors kindly give their time to help Youth Cancer Trust in the local community by giving talks, raising funds and helping promote the work of the Trust. We thank them all very much for their help and support.
Jason Bennett
In 2023, Jason Bennett joined hands with the Youth Cancer Trust, taking on the noble mission of raising funds and enhancing the charity’s visibility. His involvement comes with a deeply personal touch, inspired by the legacy of his beloved children, John and Lacey.
The tale of John and Lacey’s commitment to our cause traces back to 2021. Alongside their best friend Connie, they encountered one of our supermarket fundraisers. Demonstrating kindness beyond their years, they utilised their pocket money to purchase sweets, reselling them to gather funds for our charity. Sadly, that very evening, John, Lacey, their mother Terri, and Connie were taken from us, becoming ‘angels’ far too soon.
Jason fondly recalls his last video call with his children. “They were showing me their fundraising efforts, and I’ve never felt prouder,” he shares, a sentiment that continues to motivate his work with us.
Already, Jason, alongside his family and friends, have made significant strides in their charitable work. Jason’s flagship initiative, a Legends Charity Football match involving Sheffield Wednesday – ‘Adadforever Utd versus Legends FC’, has garnered thousands of pounds for our cause.
Unwavering in his commitment, Jason is resolute in his determination to support the Youth Cancer Trust, honouring the memory of his children. Their youthful spirit and compassionate deeds fuel his ongoing journey with us, a testament to their enduring impact. We could not be prouder to welcome Jason as a Youth Cancer Trust Ambassador.
Joe Musker
Joe Musker is an ex-professional drummer, originally from Liverpool but now based in Bournemouth. Joe toured, recorded and worked with The Mighty Wah, Dead or Alive and The Farm during the 1980’s. Joe recently retired from youth work after 26 years due to government cuts. Joe has been involved in supporting Youth Cancer Trust and has organised 26 Drumathons which have raised many thousands of pounds for charity.
“I am delighted to be an Ambassador for the Youth Cancer Trust, having been an active fundraiser for the charity since 2005.”
Colin Fry
A prece of “my life so far” from Colin…
“Got the running buzz at 10 and clock up 65yrs of running this year,with a fair degree of success. I also had an exciting Police career (37yrs)in Dorset, mainly in CID retiring as Chief Inspector at Bournemouth.
For the last 35yrs or so my charitable focus has been to support causes both national and local and with “my team” we have raised a considerable amount.
10 years ago a dear friends daughter (Kerry) died of cancer at just 31. Kerry’s cause was The Youth Cancer Trust so it became mine in her memory, through competing in/organising many running events and giving talks to numerous organisations.
My talk theme is “my life so far”, embracing its many aspects and turns and incorporating much humour. It has been well received to date. I am also an experienced Toastmaster (www.colinfrytoastmaster.co.uk) for Weddings, Corporate and other events again raising funds for YCT.
In all I am able to do, I realise how fortunate I have been and I am so pleased to be associated with YTC, it is very dear to my heart.
In 2001 East Dorset D.C. kindly gave me a “Special Community Service Award” and in July 2012 I was very privileged to carry “The Olympic Torch” during the Torch relay through Winfrith, Dorset an experience I will never forget.
Matt Johnson
Keyboard player, Jamiroquai
“The Youth Cancer Trust is a fantastic idea with amazing people running it. I wish all the guys who come to YCT a brilliant holiday.”
David Sax
Local businessman, owner of Maison Sax. Launched the 10 Icons + 10 top restaurants Auction initiative for YCT and organised a black tie ball at the West Hants Club, raising over £17,000.
“In 2016 David celebrated a very serious birthday, the sort of birthday that sends grown men into crisis and/or despair. So rather than buying a Harley Davidson or trying to run a marathon (where the difficulty would be that I’m built for comfort not for speed) I decided to devote my spare time over the that year into raising money for the Youth Cancer Trust, by doing something that I have a real passion for.”
Honorary ambassadorS
Danielle Robinson
Danielle Robinson (pictured above on the right) very sadly passed away on 29th September 2020.
Danielle had stayed at Youth Cancer Trust since she was 16 and was very much part of the YCT family. Danielle was a sweet girl with a truly kind and gentle nature.
Daniel Thomas (Peeweetoms)
The Youth Cancer Trust reached out to Dan Thomas during his illness as they were concerned about the level of bullying that was taking place on certain social media channels and wanted to offer support. Dan felt that the Trust offered a fabulous opportunity for young people with cancer but at the time was unfortunately too ill to come and visit the Trust’s premises in Bournemouth. Dan offered his support by selling his hoodies on behalf of the charity and also promoted the Trust as being one of his preferred charities on his vlogs and social media channels, which helped increase the Trust’s visibility online and amongst other young people who were experiencing the life changing cancer event in their lives at such a critical age.
The Trust followed Dan, his wife Becca and family’s stories as they provided inspiration to so many others and were shared countless times, particularly due to Dan’s incredible courage, strength, determination and fantastic sense of humour throughout his illness. Becca and his family continue to spread the word and theirs and Dan’s vlogs can be viewed at the links listed below.
The Youth Cancer Trust approached Dan before he passed away to ask if he would like to become an Honorary Ambassador so that his story can continue to inspire other young people in the future. He wholeheartedly agreed.
This is Dan’s story provided by his family…
Dan was born on 4th December 1985 in Aylesbury Bucks. He has two brothers one older Matt, one younger Ben, Mum and Dad are Martin and Lin.
He was a very easy-going child full of fun and caring towards others. At the age of 13 he suffered an anaphylactic shock in the mountains in Bulgaria which left him with an acquired brain injury. He was diagnosed with post traumatic disorders which did affect his outlook on life from then on.
In 2015 the doctors thought he had contracted shingles but after investigations it turned out it was a rare form of cancer called a Sarcomatoid Carcinoma. He then went through a number of operations and in January 2018 a small lump appeared in another area, which meant the cancer had spread.
This was devastating for us all and we began a journey to find answers. Dan set up a vlog to gain information about this rare disease so that he could help himself and others. There were only 20 recorded cases worldwide and it appeared no treatments helped. Despite it being terminal Dan never gave up hoping to find a treatment if not for himself for others.
As a family we managed to go to Paris Disneyland for a long weekend away as this was one of his favourite places, which he enjoyed. During his treatment he tried to enjoy life to the full so when in London at hospital he would visit friends, go out and do things that made him smile.
He met the love of his life Becca who was an enormous support to him. They were married on 12th September 2018. We all made it a great day full of wonderful memories.
Daniel fought the disease bravely and with great courage. Despite his and the doctor’s best efforts he lost his battle on 28th September 2018. Dan spent a brief time in Weston Hospice and we thank them for their wonderful support for us all.
Thank you to Dan and his lovely family for all their continuing support of Youth Cancer Trust. Please follow their social accounts below.
Social Media Accounts
Dan’s Accounts: YouTube, Instagram
Lin and Martin’s (Dan’s mum and dad) account: YouTube, Lin’s Instagram, Martin’s Instagram
Becca’s accounts: YouTube, Instagram