Select a region
As Jersey-born Toniie Rubio nears her 'cancer-versary', a lot has changed in a year... she has garnered millions of views on TikTok, set up a "Tinder for cancer patients", and is now preparing to give a speech at the Royal Albert Hall in an event featuring the likes of Noel Gallagher and The Who.
The 25-year-old is flying to London next week to share her journey of battling thyroid cancer at the Teenage Cancer Trust's fundraising concert on 20 March.
The week-long annual event from 18 to 23 March will feature performances from The Who, Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, and The Chemical Brothers at the Royal Albert Hall.
Miss Rubio said it was an "honour" to be given the opportunity to raise awareness of the charity's work in providing specialised nursing care and support services for young cancer patients nationwide.
Pictured: Miss Rubio will speak at a fundraising event at the Royal Albert Hall to support young cancer patients and raise awareness of the Teenage Cancer Trust.
She said that the charity has made a real difference in her life by funding a specialist nurse in the General Hospital who has supported her medically and emotionally throughout her entire journey.
Having battled thyroid cancer over the past year and now cancer-free, Miss Rubio sees the fundraiser as the "end of one chapter and the start of another."
"It was a very full circle emotional moment to be invited to speak at the event on my 'cancerversary', one year after I was diagnosed," she said.
"When I found out I had cancer in March 2023, I thought it would be the end of my life, but it has been the making of me."
Miss Rubio became an advocate for young cancer patients after she posted videos about her experience on social media – which have garnered millions of views and attracted the attention of national cancer charities over the past year.
She said: "It's so random that I started posting online for a bit of fun and now I'm getting flown out to London!"
Pictured: Miss Rubio's social media posts that gained millions of views have caught the attention of national cancer charities.
Having noted the popularity of her content, particularly among younger people, Miss Rubio wanted to find a new way to support young cancer patients.
That resulted in the creation of a new Instagram page called 'Friends Fighting Cancer' (@friends.fighting.cancer).
Jokingly describing it as "Tinder for cancer patients", Miss Rubio explained that the page includes profiles of scores of young people living with cancer – all of whom are happy to be contacted by others in need of support.
The aim, Miss Rubio said, is to connect individuals worldwide on similar journeys.
She said she wants to provide a platform for sharing experiences and mutual support and to prepare others for the realities and high points of their cancer journey.
View this post on Instagram
She said: "Over the past year I have found comfort in connecting with others who are also on their cancer journey.
"But I always struggled to know whether it would be okay to reach out as I know that some people don't necessarily want to talk to others when they are going through a hard time.
"So I created the page to bring together people looking to connect, support and follow each other."
Toniie Rubio previously down with Express in December to talk about her efforts to raise awareness and support other young cancer patients using TikTok.
Listen to the interview below or search 'Bailiwick Podcasts' on your favourite podcast provider...
Car dealer goes "above and beyond" to help cancer patient get dream Mini
LISTEN: “Cancer can take my thyroid but not my humour”
Comments
Comments on this story express the views of the commentator only, not Bailiwick Publishing. We are unable to guarantee the accuracy of any of those comments.