​Cash from inspirational teen's fundraising goes towards new cancer units

Money raised by inspirational fundraiser Stephen Sutton is to help fund equipment in new teenage cancer units in Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Sutton raised over £5 million for the Teenage Cancer Trust via a series of social media “selfies” involving celebrities, sports stars and popular icons, before succumbing to bowel cancer earlier this year.

It’s an incredible amount of money and we are extremely grateful, but we are still not reaching every young person who needs our help

The charity confirmed £630,000 will be invested in services for young people in Scotland with the new children’s unit at Glasgow’s Southern General receiving £270,000 while Edinburgh’s new Sick Kids Hospital will get £360,000 for a four bed facility for 13 to16 year olds.

Annualy, Teenage Cancer Trust invests nearly £800,000 developing and delivering services and education work cross Scotland.

The state-of-the-art units will complement the charity’s existing services and specialist care at The Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre which provides care for 17 to 24 year olds, and at the Western General Hospital, Edinburgh which provides care for 16 to 24 year olds.

Christine Jason, Teenage Cancer Trust head of regional fundraising, said: “The money from Stephen’s Story is in addition to the relentless fundraising by many patients and families, trusts, companies, schools, colleges and local communities.

“It’s an incredible amount of money and we are extremely grateful, but we are still not reaching every young person who needs our help, so there is still much to do.

“We’re still counting on the continued support of people across Scotland so we can reach even more local young people with cancer.”

Stephen’s Story inspired the biggest single fundraiser in the charity’s history and amounted to 340,000 donations.