We’re so glad you’re interested in the Find Your Sense of Tumour Weekend.

It’s an amazing event for so many reasons. A lot of young people say it’s a chance to finally be themselves after months or years of struggling to express themselves or worrying about upsetting people if they say the wrong thing. Being surrounded by people who really do understand is a powerful thing and many lifelong friendships have begun there.

This is a guide to everything you need to know about the event and what to expect. We look forward to seeing you there soon!

“A place where everyone understands and you don't have to explain anything because they understand and have been through similar situations.”

“GO - it's the best time you will ever have!”

It’s also really good fun and a chance to let your hair down – whether you have hair right now or not! But don’t take our word for it. Here is what some people who have been to FYSOT have told us:

“An amazing experience that will leave you with more information and friends.”

OK, SO WHAT IS FIND YOUR SENSE OF TUMOUR?It’s a weekend away for young people aged 18-25 who’ve had cancer. The event is planned by other young people who’ve had cancer to make sure it is as fun, useful and supportive as possible. Expect to laugh a lot, learn a lot and make friends for life.

HOW DO I GET THERE?If you’re going with a group from a Teenage Cancer Trust unit, you’ll travel there together with your Youth Support Coordinator. If you’re coming on your own, get in touch and we can help you make travel arrangements.

HOW LONG DOES IT LAST?You’ll arrive on Friday evening and leave on Sunday afternoon. If that seems like a long time, don’t worry – time flies when you’re having this much fun!

WHO ELSE WILL BE THERE? There will be around 200 young people aged 18-25, plus whole team of Teenage Cancer Trust staff, volunteers and support teams. There will always be someone from the charity around if you need anything.

WHAT GOES ON?It’s a packed schedule, with talks from some amazing people, workshops, activities and entertainment in the evening. This usually covers topics like body image, fertility, friendships and relationships.

There are lots of activities going on all weekend, but it’s not all cancer based, so don’t worry about it being too heavy. You can sign up to the things that interest you most.

This short video from 2016 gives a flavour of what you can expect.

WHERE IS IT?The event is held at St Georges Park, home of the FA, about 20 miles from Birmingham. It’s surrounded by beautiful countryside and there’s loads to do, so it’s a really good place to get away from it all and relax.

WHAT ELSE IS THERE TO DO?St George’s Park is a luxurious hotel so you can just relax with complementary therapies, go to the pool or gym or enjoy some of the afternoon activities such as art, drumming or choir work-shops, makeovers or indoor football.

DO I HAVE TO JOIN IN WITH EVERYTHING? No! This is your weekend, so you can do as much or as little of the activities that are available. It’s totally up to you. You can go for a walk around the amazing grounds or there is a chill out space if you fancy some quiet time.

WHERE WILL I BE SLEEPING? You’ll be in a shared twin bedroom. If you’ve travelled with a group you’ll all be placed together, and male and female bedrooms will always be separate. All rooms are en-suite and there are lifts to all floors.

WHAT IF I’M NOT FEELING VERY WELL? Don’t worry. We will have a medical team from Central Medical Services on site all weekend and they can provide 24 hour medical support. If you are taking any medication, please remember to bring it with you.

ARE MEALS INCLUDED? Of course – we wouldn’t want you going hungry! There will be dinner on Friday and Saturday, and breakfast and lunch on Saturday and Sunday. Every meal will be buffet style so you should find something you like.

I HAVE SPECIAL DIETARY REQUIREMENTS – IS THIS OK?Absolutely. Just let us know when you apply to attend and we’ll take care of it.

WHAT SHOULD I PACK? We would suggest that you bring layered com-fortable clothing for when you are in the hotel, coat and boots if you want to venture outside and something for the evenings.

HOW MUCH MONEY DO I NEED TO BRING? That’s entirely up to you, soft drinks and tea & coffee are provided throughout the day, however there is a pay bar in the evening for you to buy drinks, if you wish.

I HEAR THERE’S FANCY DRESS INVOLVED…Oh yes, we love a bit of fancy dress at Teenage Cancer Trust. We’ll all be slipping into our costumes for the party on Saturday night so check out this year’s theme: Heroes & Villains so get creative! If nothing else, it’s a good chance to laugh at how silly we all look…

Teenage Cancer Trust is a registered charity: 1062559 (England & Wales); SC039757 (Scotland)