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Our charity
What we do
We are redefining what life alongside cancer looks like for people in their 20s and 30s. Facing the curveball of cancer when you're just figuring out life means living unlikely parallels. The 14,600 diagnosed every year are too old for childhood services and the youngest on adult wards by decades. The impact? They're left without support recognising their unique needs, leaving them lost and isolated.
We're the only charity in the UK that helps this group navigate life through and beyond an experience that doesn’t stop when treatment ends. Our range of support services and resources help our community get informed, get connected, get active and get heard. From exercise to friendships, sex to nutrition - we're here for it all.
Trekstock is founded by Sophie Epstone
Trekstock is founded by Sophie Epstone after she becomes aware of a huge gap in tailored support services for people diagnosed with cancer in their 20s or 30s. Sophie hosts a series of secret gigs at The Boogaloo with The Mighty Boosh, The Libertines & friends...She takes I (<3) Trekstock badges to Glastonbury with global artists posing with the badges to support the cause and returns to host fundrasiser in Shoreditch, London with The Klaxons, Peaches Geldof and friends. Kelly Osbourne, Aries Moross and Will Broome design the first limited edition t-shirts.
Trekstock launches at Downing Street
Trekstock launches at Downing Street at an event hosted by Maggie Darling. Trekstock hosts the first Young Person’s Panel and produces a needs analysis to figure out exactly what young people living with and beyond cancer need. Not only that, ‘Laughing Stock’ comedy nights at The Stag attracts famous names from Katherine Ryan to James Corden and Trekstock holds a fundraiser at Proud, Camden with Mark Ronson, The Gossip and friends.
Introducing Merch for Good
Merch for Good (previously Yellow Bird Project) our line of exclusive band tees designed by incredible music artists, launches with Ellie Goulding, Devendra Banhart and more. Sir Richard Branson holds 25 years of The Roof Gardens, in aid of Trekstock attended by Princess Beatrice and hosted by Jimmy Carr. Trekstock is the official charity for the WGSN Global Fashion Awards in New York, sharing its message across the pond. Plus, Trekstock holds a ‘Gig in The Sky’ trek on Mount Kenya with Gemma Cairney and friends.
Trekstock's Research Funding
Trekstock visits a Cancer Research UK lab to learn more about cancers that impact young people. The lab tour demonstrates how Trekstock’s funding is supporting pioneering research. Beyonce is pictured with an I (<3) Trekstock badge and Lauren Laverne DJs at Gemma Cairney's trek fundraiser for Trekstock.
Trekstock launches a global fundraiser with Ambassadors Harry Styles and Liam Payne
Trekstock launches a global fundraiser with Ambassadors Harry Styles and Liam Payne to raise game changing funds for Trekstock. We host a party with Whistles to launch our limited-edition accessories collection in Spitalfields, London. Trekstock also work with Percival on a special collab. Sophie and the team take some amazingly special fundraisers (and now lifelong friends) to trek the Tour du Mont Blanc.
Trekstock launches its Young Person’s Panel
Trekstock officially launches its Young Person’s Panel of Ambassadors to ensure their needs are at the forefront of our work. We host insight sessions to feed into the development of our programmes, including expert info resources and the RENEW exercise programme.
The Great(est) Gatsby Ball
The Great Gatsby Ball fundraiser is held for Trekstock by a group of amazing students at Birmingham City University. The event is attended by One Direction's Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan and Liam Payne and is hosted by comedian Michael McIntyre, alongside our Young Adult Ambassadors.
Trekstock launches its Health Advisory Board
Trekstock launches its Health Advisory Board to support the team in delivery of excellent, evidenced-based support that fills a gap in the sector. The board gathered together to combine expertise and identify the key needs of young people diagnosed with cancer.
Trekstock says a big thankyou
Trekstock hosts a very special thank you event for its supporters and friends at the Gibson studio London, hosted by Trustee David Bower and attended by actor Jamie Campbell Bower.
Trekstock launches Meet and Move
Trekstock launch Meet and Move Manchester and London. These events bring together everything that matters to young people diagnosed with cancer. The very first Style Night is held in London - the becomes one of Trekstock’s flagship programmes
We celebrate 10 Years of Trekstock
We celebrate 10 years of supporting young people living through cancer at 34 Mayfair. The event is attended by community members, hosted by the brilliant Tom Allen and attended by famous friends. Whistles and Victoria Pendleton CBE take on a mammoth challenge to climb the Atlas Mountains for Trekstock, with Sophie heading up the trek group alongside members of our community. The first Lifting the Lid on Cancer in the Minoritised Ethnic Communities launches. Plus we bring together the guys for the first Men’s Meet and Move in London, host a Style Night in Manchester and launch our Food and Nutrition resource with Ambassador Hazel Wallace of The Food Medic.
We Lift The Lid on Menopause
Rob Challis joins as Chair of the Trustees. Lauren Mahon, host of You, Me and the Big C, hosts our first Lifting the Lid on Cancer and the Menopause. Lifting the Lid goes on to become one of our flagship programmes and becomes the catalyst for our award-winning menopause programme.
Trekstock launches its first ‘Lifting the Lid'
Trekstock launches the ‘Lifting the Lid’ series after the success of our menopause event. This live panel series of events gathers experts with community members to address the biggest questions for young people with cancer. We launch with 'Cancer and Sex’, breaking down taboos and opening up the conversation
2022 GSK Impact Awards
Trekstock is one of 10 winners of the mighty 2022 GSK Impact Awards. We receive £40,000 in funding awarded and an invitation to an invaluable charity network through The Kings Fund. Trek This City 10 mile London trek launches with over 120 supporters raising funds and awareness in the City. Trekstock features on Davina’s CH4 programme Sex, Mind and The Menopause.
Thank you National Lottery Community Fund
Trekstock heads to Edinburgh with Whistles to launch its first Style Night for young women in Scotland. We host a star studded thank you event at Uncommon in London to thank our loyal supporters, as we move through and beyond Covid-19. Funding is awarded for Trekstock’s first Wellbeing Room for young people at University College London Hospitals, launching 2024. Last but not least, we are awarded £482,000 by The National Lottery (distributed over the next three years) to help us make a transformational impact on the lives of young people facing cancer in their 20s and 30s
Trekstock 2.0
Trekstock welcomes Rachel Roxburgh as its new Chair of the Board of Trustees. We also work with partner charity Macmillan, on an important focus group of ‘Community Conversations’ to help inform their strategy and better understand the needs of young people as they navigate treatment and life alongside cancer. Our Trek This City fundraiser launches alongside our rebrand in July, developed in consultation with our community and friends at ODA Branding.
Our ambitions
We want every person in their 20s or 30s who hears the words "you have cancer" to hear the words "have you heard of Trekstock?"
We need inspiring partners to help achieve our ambitions and reach as many young people living with cancer as possible.
Please get in touch to start a conversation about supporting our exciting and vital work.
Vision and plan
Our ambition is to offer our tried and tested, evidence-based support to a greater number of young people in their 20s and 30s diagnosed with cancer annually right across the UK. Our vision is a future where everyone hearing the words ‘it’s cancer’ also hears the words 'have you heard of Trekstock?'. Our purpose? To redefine what life alongside cancer looks like, giving young people the support they need and deserve.
Statistics show a rising number of people are receiving cancer diagnoses in their 20s or 30s. The latest data highlighting a significant increase over the last 10 years from 34 to 38 a day. Cancer is hard to cope with at any age, but harder still at an age of possibility, a time navigating life. Trekstock exists to make sure those on the receiving end of those life-changing words have the support they need to thrive beyond their diagnosis – whatever it looks like.
Equality, diversity & inclusion
Our Ambition is to be visible, relevant and accessible to every young person who has a cancer diagnosis in the UK and be somewhere every one feels they belong. Our new Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging (EDIB) Vision & Plan is the way we aim to do this.
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