Grab a couple of tissues because this will likely be the most heart breaking and powerful thing you see all day.
STA Travel has teamed up with UK-based hip hop group, ‘Along Came Shifty’, to release an emotional music video designed to raise awareness of young people that are either fighting or have lived through cancer.
Snippets from over 100 interviews conducted with young cancer patients were edited into a six-minute clip and placed over a song titled ‘Forecast’, which was written and performed by the nine-piece music group.
The video was uploaded to Youtube and is now available to download on iTunes, with all proceeds from downloads being split between four charities – STA Travel and CanTeen Australia, CanTeen New Zealand, Teenage Cancer Trust UK and Teen Cancer America.
STA Travel CEO, John Constable, said young people fighting cancer face “specific challenges” that prevents them from experiencing teen life.
“Normal life is suddenly turned upside down and treatment prevents you from socialising, playing sports and travelling.”
John Constable, STA Travel CEO
“We want to spread the word about CanTeen, and their important work bringing young people affected by cancer together while also helping them develop skills to cope with the impact cancer has on their lives.”
The video was brought to life by STA Travel Creative Director Tor White, with the help of US filmmaker and cancer survivor Hernan Barangan, who is on a mission to tell the stories of youths with cancer.
“Being a cancer survivor comes with a weight of its own – a duty to give back,” said Hernan. “I want to disrupt the way we look at cancer to dispel fear and focus on the strength of the young people affected.”
Hernan has interviewed nearly 100 young cancer patients for a documentary titled ‘Cancer Rebellion’ that he hopes to launch at the Cannes Film Festival in 2017.
Check out the video below:
Over the next five years, STA Travel is raising money to support young people with cancer by giving travellers the opportunity to donate $2 with any booking made in Australia and New Zealand. All the proceeds of ‘Forecast’ downloads from iTunes will also be split between STA Travel’s partners: CanTeen, Teen Cancer America and Teenage Cancer Trust.
CanTeen Australia relies on donations to fund its important work. Click here to find out more, get involved or make a donation.