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A young cancer survivor whose work to educate people all over the world through TikTok recently saw her selected to serve on a national advisory group is organising a special Christmas treat for other youths undergoing treatment – and is seeking islanders' help.
Toniie Rubio (25) said it was an "honour" to be chosen by the Teenage Cancer Trust to serve on its Youth Advisory Group from January 2025 to December 2026.
The role will see her provide feedback to the Teenage Cancer Trust and participate in policy discussions alongside 30 to 35 young people who have also experienced cancer with a view to improving the care of young patients across the British Isles.
Toniie said it was an "honour" to have been selected – and even more so to be the first person from the Channel Islands to have served on the group.
She hopes her unique perspective will provide valuable insights to help local young people.
"We have a completely different experience of what treatment is like versus people in the UK," she said. "They travel by car and train, but we have to fly over, which has a hidden cost.”
Pictured: Toniie has documented her journey with thyroid cancer journey on TikTok.
Having been recently named Young Ambassador of the Year at the Pride of Jersey awards, Toniie added that she wanted to strengthen the connection between Jersey and the UK-based charity to address these challenges and hidden costs.
Toniie said: “When I brought these issues up with the charity, they listened and encouraged me to speak up, which is so important.”
The 25-year-old was selected for this role after gaining millions of views on TikTok with videos that educate others about the realities of living with cancer as a young person while also offering support to those facing similar challenges.
Pictured: Toniie's social media posts gained millions of views and caught the attention of national cancer charities.
Toniie said: “I feel like I have made loads of progress in terms of raising awareness and supporting people young people over the past year or two, but there's a limit on how much I can do alone.
"To now be part of the group that's going to be able to push these changes is really exciting and powerful to me, and also to be the first person in Channel Island is really special because I think it sets the tone for the future.”
In the run-up to starting this role in January, Toniie is also organising Christmas hampers for six young cancer patients aged 17-25 in Jersey.
This stems from her personal experience of struggling through the holiday season during her cancer treatment.
"Last year, I was recovering after finishing my cancer treatment. I found Christmas time really difficult and struggled to enjoy it with my family," she explained.
Picutred: Toniie picked up the Young Ambassador of the Year award at The Pride of Jersey Awards.
The hampers will include personalised items like noise-cancelling headphones — which she explained would be useful for patients trying to get to sleep while in hospital — as well as hotel stays and other gifts.
Local businesses have already supported her initiative, with Phoenix Construction donating £500 and other organisations providing vouchers and experiences for the hampers.
"I think it's really important to give," Toniie explained. "It's so easy to give somebody a pick-me-up. It doesn't have to be expensive.
“Many young people with cancer feel they’ve missed out on so much—travelling, parties, living life like others their age. These hampers can’t make up for what they’ve lost, but they’re a way of saying, ‘You deserve something special too.’”
Islanders interested in making a donation can get in touch via her email: antoniabarbara99@gmail.com.
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