CanTeen Australia is the nationwide organisation that supports young Australians aged 12-24 affected by Cancer.

Through bringing young people together, CanTeen supports cancer patients, brothers and sisters of patients and the offspring of cancer patients. We do this through the provision of camps, recreation days, discussion groups, hospital visits etc, because what we know about young people is that being with other young people who have had a similar experience is the most powerful therapy of all.

CanTeen does not exclude any young person, whether they are from Charters Towers or metropolitan Brisbane, CanTeen covers all costs involved with young people accessing our service. So as you can imagine much of our funding is used on bus, train and airfares, ensuring that all of our young people have the same opportunity to participate.

CanTeen also has another important function and that is to advocate for dedicated adolescent and young adult treatment units nationwide.

Whilst the survival rates for children and adults diagnosed with cancer has improved dramatically over the past 10 years, the survival rates for teenagers and young adults with cancer have not improved at all. The reasons for this are complex and multi-layered. However the research suggests that this age group fall through the gaps in regards to access to clinical trials and medical research, that being treated in either an adult or paediatric facility is not conducive to their psychological well-being, and physical development stages are thought to have an impact as well.

CanTeen wants to see this addressed and these statistics turned around. But we cannot do it without the generosity of individuals and families like you and the assistance of great companies with a sense of social responsibility like Hirum.

So please get behind Hirum and CanTeen and our vision to really make a difference for young Australians affected by cancer.