Teenage Cancer Trust are on the lookout for hundreds of thrill-seekers to take on the world’s fastest zipwire at on 7 September.
The event at Zip World in Penryn Quarry, North Wales, is in memory of Stephen Sutton, a teenager and viral campaigner from Burntwood who raised millions for Teenage Cancer Trust, the charity who supported him before his death in 2014.
To date, Stephen’s legacy has raised a staggering £5.7 million for Teenage Cancer Trust, the only UK charity to provide specialised care and support to teenagers and young adults with cancer. Zip Wire for Stephen is the brainchild of Jane Sutton, Stephen’s mum and Teenage Cancer Trust ambassador. Since Stephen death she has been dedicated to continuing his remarkable work, and is now aiming to reach the next major fundraising milestone of £6 million. To help make this happen, Teenage Cancer Trust are recruiting 576 adrenaline junkies to take off down the world’s fastest zip wire.
The event will also commemorate five years since Stephen’s death in 2014. Stephen was diagnosed with colorectal cancer aged 15 and was treated in the three Teenage Cancer Trust units in Birmingham. Despite being told that his cancer was incurable, Stephen remained positive and determined to make a difference to other young people with cancer. Stephen’s story captured the public’s imagination in an overwhelming way, with celebrities such as Stephen Fry, Russell Brand and Jason Manford all getting behind him.
Stephen’s legacy continues to have an incredible impact and has brought Teenage Cancer Trust closer to their goal of reaching every young person with cancer in the UK. Stephen’s fundraising has enabled Teenage Cancer Trust to do incredible things, such as making improvements to their cancer units across the country, providing specialist training and development for their nurses and Youth Support Coordinators, and expanding their Education and Awareness programme in schools
Jane Sutton said: “Next month marks five years since Stephen’s passing, and I am more determined than ever to keep his legacy alive.
“Stephen was an inspiration to so many people. We want to do him proud by continuing to raise vital funds for Teenage Cancer Trust, the charity he was so passionate about and move his fundraising total above £6 million.
Stephen emphasised there should be ‘fun in fundraising’ so please help us continue Stephen’s incredible legacy by signing up for ‘Zip Wire for Stephen’. In doing so you’ll certainly have fun, and most importantly you’ll help Teenage Cancer Trust reach more young people diagnosed with cancer than ever before.”
Vanessa Simmons, Teenage Cancer Trust Head of Regional Fundraising (West), said:
“We’re so grateful to Jane Sutton for everything that she’s done for Teenage Cancer Trust over the past five years. She has been an incredible ambassador for the charity and worked tirelessly to continue Stephen’s legacy, even taking on grueling challenges like running the London Marathon and climbing Kilimanjaro!
“We are delighted that Jane’s latest fundraising initiative, Zip Wire for Stephen, will be coming to Zip World in North Wales this September, and we encourage people to sign up now. Not only will you get to experience the world’s fastest zip wire, but the vital funds raised by Zip Wire for Stephen will help us to continue and grow our work providing specialist care and support to young people like Stephen.”
To register for this once in a lifetime event Call Zip World now on 01248 601444 and quote ‘Ste46’. To find out more, including terms and conditions, visit: https://www.teenagecancertrust.org/about-us/news/thrillseekers-needed-record-breaking-zip-wire-stephen
