A team of 40 employees from Abbey for Intermediaries (AFI) and Cater Allen will be climbing Scafell Pike, England’s tallest mountain, on 21 June.
The climb is being undertaken in order to raise funds for Teenage Cancer Trust.
The charity aims to ensure that every young person with cancer and their family receive the best possible care and professional support. It has developed specialist units within NHS hospitals that treat young people with cancer together, in an environment tailored for them and with dedicated nurses and staff who really understand teenagers.
The charity is a cause very close to the heart of Santander’s intermediary division, because of the support it has provided to Emily Duncombe, the daughter of Jeremy Duncombe, head of field sales at AFI.
Emily was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in February 2011, aged 15. After three months of chemotherapy, she was given the all clear, but in December 2011, the family was told that the cancer had returned and Emily would need further treatment.
She has now completed another six months of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and is awaiting the next set of results, which they hope will be really positive.
She is currently sitting her GCSEs and is planning for her A-levels and university, where she wants to study to be a vet.
Jeremy Duncombe said: “Emily has been amazingly brave, positive and has simply ‘got on with it’ – missing as little school as possible, and still continuing with her horse riding and dancing whenever she is allowed. During the last 16 months, we’ve received huge support from family, friends and colleagues but also from some fantastic staff and organisations, especially Teenage Cancer Trust, who we are raising funds for.
“I’m delighted that the Intermediary Division has decided to support Teenage Cancer Trust in our climb of Scafell Pike. All money raised will be matched by Santander, so please support in any way that you can. I know it will be really appreciated by the charity, but more importantly by the teenagers who really benefit from knowing that they can undergo their treatment in a place that doesn’t look or feel like hospital.”
To donate, please visit the Just Giving page. All donations will be matched by Santander. To find out more about the Teenage Cancer Trust, please visit: http://www.teenagecancertrust.org/ .