Top diver gives cancer patients insights into Olympic training

Four patients from the Teenage Cancer Trust’s unit at Weston Park Hospital were invited to Ponds Forge International Sports Centre to meet the diver, who is based at the venue.

The group, aged between 19 and 24, were given an insight into his training regime, with a demonstration on the trampoline he uses to perfect his spins and somersaults out of the water.

One of the visitors to Ponds Forge was Ivan Litvinceus, aged 24, who is now in remission after being diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma, a rare type of bone cancer, in December 2010.

He had treatment at Weston Park Hospital, which involved chemotherapy and then surgery to remove the tumour.

Mr Litvinceus said: “The visit was really good fun.

“Teenage Cancer Trust arranges lots of activities for us, which helps take our minds off treatment and makes us feel like normal youngsters again.”

Caroline Wiltshire, Youth Support Co-ordinator at Teenage Cancer Trust unit, said: “We’re really grateful to Ben for taking time out of his busy training schedule to spend time with some of our patients.

“Our aim at Teenage Cancer Trust is to work with the youngsters as teenagers first and as cancer patients second.”

Teenage Cancer Trust, which is one of the nominated charities for the 2012 Sheffield Half Marathon, is the only UK charity dedicated to the six people aged between 13 and 24 who are diagnosed with cancer every day.