Held from 24 to 30 March, the iconic longstanding fundraising gigs held by Teenage Cancer Trust saw a week of entertainment, alongside giving young people who have experienced cancer a VIP trip to remember.
David Benson, now 21, was diagnosed with Nasopharyngeal cancer (a rare type of cancer that affects the part of the throat connecting the back of the nose to the back of the mouth) in December 2023.
David said: “I was getting really sick, having bad headaches and in constant pain. It was winter and I thought it was because of the cold. Then I started to feel a lump in my neck, so I went and got it checked out. It was a real shock when they told me it was cancer. I didn’t know what to think - it felt like my life had changed.”
David underwent chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy at St Bartholomew's Hospital in London and finished his treatment in June 2024.
The Stamford Hill man took a trip to the Royal Albert Hall on Thursday 27th March to watch The Who from the best seats in the house, as part of the charity’s Ultimate Backstage Experience programme.
Alongside his Teenage Cancer Trust Clinical Nurse Specialist, Kristy, Youth Support Coordinator, Tom and nine other young people from London supported by the charity, David was treated to an exclusive tour of the iconic venue, including dinner backstage.
During the evening’s show, David also got the chance to have his own moment in the spotlight when he was invited on stage, alongside peers, to take a selfie with the 5,000 strong crowd who lit their phone torches to show their support for young people with cancer.
The group also got to take part in an interactive music workshop courtesy of the Royal Albert Hall’s engagement team and stay overnight in a central London hotel.
After being diagnosed with a rare throat cancer, David was supported by Teenage Cancer Trust Clinical Nurse Specialist, Kristy, who joined him at the Royal Albert Hall.
David adds: “Kristy did a lot for me – she constantly checked up on me and asked me if I needed anything.
“I’m a bit of an introvert and Kristy was always trying to get me to meet other young people with cancer, but I was so sick I couldn’t socialise. I joined a group chat that Kristy organises and through that I met some really nice people my own age.
“Kristy has supported me in so many ways, including helping me talk to my university, referring me to an art therapist, checking my eating and nutrition, assisting me with PIP and Universal Credit, and with finding a place to stay. I can’t thank her enough.”
The Ultimate Backstage Experience offers young people an opportunity to connect with peers who have faced cancer, boost their confidence post-treatment, and create lasting memories. This year, with generous sponsorship from Domino’s Pizza, more than 125 young people, including David, had the chance to participate.
On his experience at the Royal Albert Hall, David said: “It was the best day I have had in a very long time, I wished it never ended”
In addition to sponsoring the Ultimate Backstage Experience, over the past ten years, Domino’s has raised over £8 million to support Teenage Cancer Trust’s vital work and ensure that cancer doesn’t stop young people with cancer living their lives.
In 2024 alone, Domino’s raised over £800,000 for Teenage Cancer Trust. Alongside the charity’s core work, Domino’s funded seven Youth Support Coordinators across the UK, who help young people to navigate their cancer experience, and went the extra mile and donated over 2,500 pizzas.
Through its annual series of gigs at the Royal Albert Hall, Teenage Cancer Trust has raised over £34 million to fund its specialist units, nurses, and youth support teams across the UK for young people aged 13-24.
That money is enough to pay for over a million hours of specialist care from Teenage Cancer Trust nurses. This year, top performers including James Arthur and The Corrs all performed for free to help young people with cancer.
Kelly Scott, Head of Youth Work and Programmes, Teenage Cancer Trust, said: “You only get one chance at being young, and those years shape the person you become.
“Friendships, mental health, body image, studies, work, relationships and choices about the future are hard enough to navigate – but a cancer diagnosis can make that even more challenging, leaving people feeling isolated.
“Special events like the Ultimate Backstage Experience bring young people together to connect, make friends, and to have fun.
“We are hugely thankful to our sponsor, Domino’s, whose support means that young people can enjoy a memorable trip to the Royal Albert Hall in London, alongside other people their age who have face similar challenges.”
Rachel Townsend, Senior Charity Communications Manager at Domino's Pizza Group, said: “We are really proud to be a long-standing partner of Teenage Cancer Trust and to support the incredible work they do up and down the country.
“Teenage Cancer Trust helps young people to hold on to their independence, making sure they don’t miss out on all the things that make being young special and unique – such as going to their first gig.
“This is exactly what the Ultimate Backstage Experience aims to provide, and we’re once again honoured to be supporting the event, helping young people to make new memories and friends.”