'I worked out a lot and thought I was invincible' - Scots cancer survivor diagnosed with leukaemia at 19 backs £1 million charity house draw

A young Scottish cancer survivor who was diagnosed with leukaemia aged 19 has spoken of the care he received from the Teenage Cancer Trust ahead of the charity teaming up with an American fundraising platform to launch the UK’s first million pound house draw.

Young Scottish cancer survivor backs £1 million charity house prize draw

Andrew Tetley was just 19, when he was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia and received care at the charity’s units at the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh and the Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre in Glasgow.

The 21-year-old, received nine months of chemotherapy and said the Teenage Cancer Trust needed to maintain donations to help them keep supporting young people through the current pandemic and beyond.

They have now joined forces with US charity fundraising platform Omaze, championed by Hollywood stars including Daniel Craig, Jennifer Lawrence and Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Omaze are launching their first campaign in the UK by offering people the chance to win a £1m house to raise essential funds for Teenage Cancer Trust to ensure the charity’s frontline specialist nurses and youth support teams can continue to provide care for vulnerable young people in Scotland.

The charity needs to raise £570,000 to maintain its vital services, including their specialist units at the Royal Hospital for Children and the Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre in Glasgow and the Sick Kids hospital and Western General Hospital in Edinburgh.

READ MORE: Demands for Scottish cancer services to restart to avoid a second health crisis

Tetley, from Edinburgh, said: “At 19 I worked out a lot and thought I was invincible, so when I started to get night sweats, painful joints and I lost weight I didn’t think I needed to see a doctor.

“I had been poorly for a month and could barely get out of bed by the time I gave in and decided to go to my GP.

“I was soon diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia.

“I started my treatment on the Teenage Cancer Trust unit in Edinburgh and I had to have intense chemo for nine months.

“My body was breaking down in front of me and if I wasn’t on the Teenage Cancer Trust unit with a room to myself, I don’t know how I would have coped.

“Being on the Teenage Cancer Trust unit was nothing like being on a normal hospital ward.

“I enjoyed being around other young people on the unit when I felt ok, the Teenage Cancer Trust staff let us sleep in, rather than waking us early like on a normal ward and you have free WiFi which helped me connect with people when I didn’t want to see anyone face-to-face,”

The £1m home is located in Cheadle Hulme, Cheshire, a favourite with Premiership footballers.

The campaign launch video features Alex Rider, Line of Duty and This is England star Vicky McClure and Kaiser Chiefs and The Voice star Ricky Wilson.

Kate Collins, Chief Executive of Teenage Cancer Trust said: “Cancer won’t stop for anything, and during this time of uncertainty young people need our support more than ever before.

“Our team of specialist staff are doing all they can to help young people with cancer in incredibly difficult circumstances.” Draw entries are now available at www.omaze.co.uk – the Omaze Million Pound House Draw is open until midnight on Thursday 12th November 2020.

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