Cancer sufferer hopes to build charity’s first Scottish group

Trekstock supports thousands of young people living with effects of the disease

A young woman living with cancer in Fife is setting up a youth cancer charity’s first Scottish support group.

Bridget Iesan, 24, who formerly lived in Dundee, was diagnosed with a grade four medulloblastoma brain tumour last year, and has used the Maggie’s Centre in Dundee ever since.

However, she says in that time she has not come across any other young people using the service.

Now she is taking matters into her own hands, and has got involved with young people’s charity Trekstock.

Acting as a champion for the charity, Bridget is holding a Cuppa and Connect event in Maggie’s Dundee centre.

She said: “It is an informal gettogether where you can have a chat about whatever you want – it doesn’t have to be cancer. It is just a chance to have a chat with someone because you want to have a chat with them.

“I have been using the Maggie’s Centre for over a year and haven’t met any other young people at all in that time, so the centre manager had directed me to Trekstock.

“I joined their online support forum which I’m now sort of involved with.

“Their events are all in England, but I know there must be other young people in Angus, Dundee and Fife who have experiences of cancer.

“A lot of young people don’t use the Maggie’s Centre because they think it is a morbid place, but it is the complete opposite of that. It would be good to see more people there.”

Bridget has attended creative writing, mindfulness and nutritional workshops and classes at the centre in the past 12 months.

Trekstock, which counts One Direction’s Harry Styles and Liam Payne as its patrons, supports 100,000 young adults in their twenties and thirties living with the effects of cancer across the UK.

The charity works with young adults to tailor their physical, emotional and practical support to their individual needs.

A representative of the charity will attend the inaugural Dundee event to offer support to anyone who wishes to seek advice or information.

The event will be held on November 26 from 1 to 4pm. cisneddon@thecourier.co.uk

It is an informal gettogether. BRIDGET IESAN

Picture: Steve MacDougall. Bridget Iesan, 24, was diagnosed with a grade four medulloblastoma brain tumour last year.