Young people aged 13 to 24 spending Christmas in hospital will receive festive gift bundles this year through a national initiative led by Project Youth Cancer.
Patients at University Hospital of Wales will be among hundreds of teenagers and young adults across 45 hospitals in the UK and Ireland waking up to bags filled with vouchers, selection boxes, sweets, and holiday surprises.
This year, Project Youth Cancer is also donating Luma3 devices to hospital wards—a light-based tool that leads users through calming breathing exercises and has been scientifically proven to encourage relaxation, balance, and gentle stress relief.
These devices are intended to support young cancer patients’ mental wellbeing during lengthy and often lonely hospital stays, reflecting the charity’s commitment to emotional health.
Christmas can mean being apart from home, family, and familiar comforts for many young individuals with cancer. Project Christmas aims to share moments of happiness and remind every young person they’re not alone throughout this challenging season.
Throughout the week, the charity’s volunteer-run “sleigh” will travel from Aberdeen to Plymouth, as well as to Dublin and Belfast, covering 5,970 miles to bring gifts to 45 hospital units.
Pam Thornes, spokesperson for Project Youth Cancer, shared:
“Every year, there are some young people who, after facing the misfortune of a cancer diagnosis, must also spend Christmas in a hospital. The gifts they receive over the holidays bring immense joy. In these financially difficult times, any donation makes a difference, but Project Youth Cancer consistently goes the extra mile. We are deeply grateful for everything this charity does—thank you!”
Project Youth Cancer, previously known as The Laura Crane Youth Cancer Trust, has been supporting young cancer patients for nearly three decades. The organisation offers crucial assistance through both remote and in-person therapies, combats feelings of isolation, and empowers young people as they journey through cancer.
If you’d like to learn more or help their efforts, please visit:
projectyouthcancer.org/project-christmas
