New Young Ambassador

LEIGH based children’s cancer support charity Gold Geese has welcomed 18‑year‑old Conall Riley from Southend as its newest Young Ambassador to help raise more awareness of cancer in children and young people.
Described by the charity’s CEO Katie as a caring and enthusiastic young man with a great sense of humour, Mr Riley is currently doing an apprenticeship at Southend Airport and enjoys mountain biking.
Mr Riley was supported by Gold Geese after being diagnosed with bone cancer as a child. As part of his treatment Mr Riley underwent a leg amputation, which brought huge physical and emotional challenges.
After he completed treatment the impact of cancer continued, with Mr Riley developing PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), which again disrupted the active lifestyle he loved.
Mr Riley said: “The hardest thing about having cancer for me was losing my sporty lifestyle during my treatment, as a result of my leg amputation.
“Gold Geese helped me after PTSD hit me many years after finishing treatment by paying for my counselling. This was huge because my sporty lifestyle was taken again, this time by PTSD.”
With support, determination and the right care, Mr Riley has rebuilt his confidence and independence and decided to be a Young Ambassador for the charity to help others: “Gold Geese also helped me meet a community of other children and teenagers affected by cancer, which has led to very close friendships. It’s really helped us feel we are not alone.
“I now have an amazing happy life training as an engineer at Southend Airport and amateur boxer, and I’m enjoying my independence driving as I’ve just passed my driving test!”
Gold Geese supports children and young people with cancer across Mid and South Essex, providing practical, emotional and financial support to families from diagnosis, through treatment and beyond. The charity also raises awareness of childhood cancer symptoms and encourages the community to get involved through fundraising, blood donation, and joining the bone marrow register.
As a Young Ambassador, Mr Riley aims to help Gold Geese reach even more people by: – Inspiring young people across the community to support the charity and learn about childhood cancer – Sharing his experience to help others feel seen, understood and less alone – Participating in Gold Geese fundraising and awareness events and creating online content to reach more young people and families.
Later this year Mr Riley will be competing in a boxing competition to raise money for Gold Geese and has already raised over half of his £800 target.
In time, the charity will be announcing a small team of other Young Ambassadors who will join Mr Riley. They will form a special Young Ambassador panel, which will help the charity further improve its support for teenagers, who face specific challenges.
Gold Geese Founder and CEO Katie Southgate said: “Conall is such a fun and bubbly person to be around.
“He embodies everything our new Young Ambassador programme is about – courage, honesty and a commitment to helping others.
“His experience and resilience will resonate with so many young people who are navigating life during or after cancer, and we can’t wait to see him out and about representing Gold Geese and inspiring our community. To say I am proud of this young man is an understatement.”
For more information about Gold Geese or to learn the signs and symptoms of childhood cancer, visit www.goldgeese.org.
Picture: 18‑year‑old Conall Riley
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