Harrison Eden was among VIP guests who have been supported by Teenage Cancer Trust
Harrison Eden on stage at the Royal Albert Hall, left, and pictured on his last day of cancer treatment(Image: supplied image)
A teenager from Barton-upon-Humber received VIP treatment at London’s Royal Albert Hall. Harrison Eden, who was diagnosed with cancer aged just 14, took centre stage at the iconic venue at an event held by Teenage Cancer Trust (TCT)
A full week of entertainment and fundraising from top musicians and comedians gave over 125 young people who have experienced cancer VIP trips to remember. Harrison, now 18, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in November 2022.
After being supported by TCT throughout his ordeal, he had had the opportunity to watch Wolf Alice from the best seats in the house, as part of the charity’s Ultimate Backstage Experience programme. Alongside other young people who have been supported by TCT, Harrison was treated to an exclusive tour of the iconic venue, including dinner backstage.
During the evening’s show Harrison 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 stayed overnight in a central London hotel.
On his diagnosis, Harrison said: “I started getting mild headaches and back pain in September 2022 when I was 14. I went to the GP who didn’t think it was too serious and told me to keep an eye on the headaches and to go back if they got worse.
Harrison Eden during his cancer treatment(Image: supplied image)
“Very quickly the symptoms exacerbated and I also started experiencing jaundice. The breaking point was when I was helping my dad move some things and my eyesight went when I was lifting a piece of heavy metal.
“We went to A&E at Hull Royal where they thought I was jaundiced and did some blood tests. They sent the results to Leeds Royal, and because they looked suspicious, they did some more – eight hours later they told me that I had a type of blood cancer.”
The cancer was acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and Harrison went through intensive chemotherapy for ten months. Thankfully, at such a traumatic time, help and support was available from TCT and he was able to receive his treatment at two of the charity’s specially designed units for young people – first at Leeds, then Hull.
Harrison said: “Because I was under 16, I stayed at Leeds General Infirmary rather than being treated in Hull nearer to home. I was treated in the Teenage Cancer Trust unit and I loved it.
“It was a nice place to be, which may seem a strange thing to say while going through something as horrible as cancer, but the atmosphere was great. There was a room for teenagers to sit and chill out, and it felt like a mini home.
“I had a private room at times, and my mum could stay over. She didn’t leave my side which was much welcomed; I don’t think I would have coped as well without her.
“When I was on a bay, there was a lad my age next to me and we’d sit in our beds and play FIFA, it was nice being around people my age. I wouldn’t like to think how I would cope if I was being treated next to babies and toddlers, but I know I would have found it much harder.”
Harrison Eden was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in November 2022(Image: supplied image)
Harrison also received support from TCT’s youth support coordinator, Cat. He said: “She told me about her role and how she could help me.
“Cat is lovely and an amazing lady. Time on the unit would be boring without her and the days would have dragged.
“She’d come to see me when I was in isolation and sit and talk to me. She was really easy to chat to.”
When Harrison turned 17, he was transferred to the charity’s unit at Castle Hill, where he met youth support coordinator, Charlene. Harrison said: “Charlene made sure that I was doing ok mentally.
“She asks how I am and if she’s not convinced with my reply, she’ll say something like: ‘How are you actually?’ This helps me to open up to her.
“She’s there to support my parents too. My mum contacted her once when I was in hospital and she wasn’t getting the information she needed. Charlene got straight on to the doctor who came back to her.
“Charlene is also setting up a group for mums.” It was Charlene who suggested Harrison take part in TCT’s Ultimate Backstage Experience.
Of the Royal Albert Hall visit, Harrison, who is now cancer-free, said: ”The trip was absolutely amazing, the fact that people do all this for people in our situation is astonishing. My favourite part about the trip was getting to know all the people and socialising.
“It’s nice to see everyone who has had such a rough journey have a nice time together. The on-stage moment was well and truly surreal, it was a bit nerve-racking moments before, but once I got on there it was amazing.
“It was also a bit emotional knowing that the whole crowd was there to support us alongside seeing Wolf Alice. We went around London the day after the concert, seeing all the sights.”
Through its annual series of gigs at the Royal Albert Hall, TCT has raised over £34m to fund its specialist units, nurses, and youth support teams across the UK for young people aged 13 to 24.
That money is enough to pay for over a million hours of specialist care from TCT nurses. This year, top performers including Elbow, Manic Street Preachers, My Bloody Valentine, Garbage and Mogwai are all performing for free to help young people with cancer.
Roger Lennon, youth work manager at TCT, said: “Cancer as a young person can feel really isolating but special events like the Ultimate Backstage Experience bring young people with similar experiences together to connect, make friends, and to have fun. We are so thankful to our sponsor, Domino’s, whose support makes this truly once-in-a-lifetime opportunity possible.”
In addition to sponsoring the Ultimate Backstage Experience, over the past ten years, Domino’s customers, colleagues and franchise partners have raised over £9m to support TCT’s vital work and ensure that cancer does not stop young people with cancer living their lives. In 2025 alone, Domino’s raised over £950,000 for the charity.
Rachel Townsend, senior charity communications manager at Domino’s Pizza Group, said: “Our relationship with Teenage Cancer Trust continues to be one of genuine pride for us. They give young people facing unimaginably tough situations the chance to still enjoy the milestones that make youth meaningful.
“Supporting the Ultimate Backstage Experience once again is an honour, as it offers young people precious moments of joy, connection and new friendships.”
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