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Thames Hospice is gearing up to back Tanisha, 17, from Slough, who is one of four inspirational young people who will be taking on personal challenges to help raise funds for BBC Children in Need, via The Challenge Squad.
Tanisha will be performing a very special duet with chart-topping, X-Factor popstar, Ella Henderson, live on the BBC Children in Need’s 2024 Appeal Show on Friday, 15 November and Roman Kemp who will be mentoring Tanisha ahead of the big night!
Tanisha and her family were introduced to Thames Hospice in May 2022; after her Dad, Mario, was diagnosed with esophageal cancer earlier that year. Mario was cared for by the Hospice at Home team and sadly passed away in the September.
Tanisha, her mum, Natasha and younger brother, Marley all received vital support from our Children and Families Support Team (funded by BBC Children in Need), helping them to come to terms with their loss.
As a result of the care she received from the Hospice, Tanisha has been inspired to help other young people come to terms with loss.
Tanisha said “Thames Hospice helped me to accept that I couldn’t just push all the pain aside, I needed to give myself time to process what I was actually feeling. It helped me through one of the most vulnerable times in my life and made me realise that I did not need to carry the weight of the loss alone, that I had people around me willing to listen and to be present. I am proud to be an ambassador for Thames Hospice and to be challenging myself to raise money to make life lighter for other young people experiencing loss.”
Children and Families Support Worker, Heidi James, who has supported Tanisha over the last two years, said: “I am extremely proud of Tanisha, she has a remarkable inner strength that just shines through. Seeing her on TV was a very humbling moment for me. It’s heartwarming to see how far Tanisha has come, and how she is using her experience, her voice, to help others. I'm incredibly proud of the young woman she's become and wish her all the luck in the world.”
Thames Hospice is encouraging the local community to get behind Tanisha and support her on this somewhat epic journey.