A Narberth man who was diagnosed with cancer aged 20 is urging people to get behind a new online fundraiser in aid of the charity that helped him through the toughest time of his life.

Tim Mills was supported by Teenage Cancer Trust throughout his gruelling treatment and got to meet one of his favourite artists, Ed Sheeran, when he attended one of their charity gigs at The Royal Albert Hall in 2017.

As part of its emergency funding appeal, Teenage Cancer Trust is launching an incredible archive of never-before-seen footage of live performances from its fundraising gigs over the past 20 years, which is hosted on YouTube.

Starting on Thursday (October 8) with highlights of the Ed Sheeran gig that Tim attended, 11 live performances from a diverse range of acts including The Stereophonics and The Who will be streamed daily until October 18.

The shows are free to enjoy, but Ed Sheeran and all the other artists involved are urging fans who watch to donate to Teenage Cancer Trust and help fill the £6million gap in funding they face as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic.

Tim, now 24, was diagnosed with lymphoblastic lymphoma aged 20, and was treated on the Teenage Cancer Trust unit at the University Hospital, Wales. This is one of 28 specialist units in NHS hospitals that the charity funds, that bring young people together for treatment in an environment that feels more like a home than a hospital ward.

Tim said: “I’ll definitely be watching the Ed Sheeran gig! His performance blew me away.

“My trip down to London to watch the show was unforgettable. Me and about 20 other young people the charity had supported had the chance to meet Ed backstage before the main concert and he is honestly the nicest bloke you could meet.

“We got to go on stage in front of the crowd too. It was incredible and one of the highlights of the night. They dimmed the lights and got everyone to shine their phone lights at us. I will honestly never forget that moment in my life; it was phenomenal.

“During treatment being able to stay on the unit with other people my age, and the support I got from the charity’s nurses and youth workers helped me cope.

“It would have been really tough to stay on an adult ward without that help, especially as during the most intensive part of my treatment I was in hospital for about 8 months.

“Please watch the shows and donate whatever you can to keep the charity going – they make a big difference to young people with cancer and they need all the help they can get at the moment.”

Roger Daltrey, Teenage Cancer Trust patron commented: “So here we are, six months into one of the strangest times in living memory.

“Where everyone has had some sense of what isolation, even for short periods, can do to the state of our mental health.

“Without the environment and services that Teenage Cancer Trust provide within our NHS, specifically for this age group, isolation throughout their lengthy treatments becomes a strong possibility.

“Through Teenage Cancer Trust, the UK has led the world in recognising the specific issues that this age group with cancer suffer, please donate generously to make sure this vital work continues through these difficult times.”

For more information visit: www.teenagecancertrust.org/unseen