Musician stages 'thank you' gig after cancer trial

A musician who made global news as one of the first people to receive a skin cancer vaccine has held a sell-out concert to thank those who helped him.

Steve Young, from Stevenage, Hertfordshire, organised Up Yours Cancer! with a line-up including 1980s star Nik Kershaw at the Corn Exchange in Hertford on Sunday.

The concert raised £5,000 for the Macmillan Cancer Support Fund and the cancer fund at University College London Hospital (UCLH), where he was treated.

"Performing for those who supported me was such a privilege," said Young, who revealed the King had sent him his "warmest good wishes".

Young, a music teacher, met the King at UCLH last year while taking part in the first personalised trial of the mRNA vaccine for melanoma - the most dangerous form of skin cancer.

He had invited the King, who has also been treated for cancer, to the fundraiser, but he was unable to attend.

Instead, a message from him was read out on stage: "His Majesty is sincerely grateful to you for thinking of him and is delighted to know that the event will be raising money for the Macmillan Cancer Support Fund.

"He has asked me to convey to you his warmest good wishes, and he hopes that everyone has a fantastic time."

A capacity crowd, including Young's partner, Monica, and his mother, cheered all 18 acts on the bill, a mix of established stars and new talent, who had all given their time for free.

Prof Karl Peggs, a pioneer of the vaccine at UCLH, and other medical staff were in the audience.

Young performed with his rock and blues band, The Real Time Players, while Kershaw's set included smash hits Wouldn't It Be Good and The Riddle,

The Ipswich-based musician, who appeared at Live Aid in 1985, explained afterwards that cancer was a subject close to his heart. "You don't get to my age without being touched by cancer in some way, shape or form," he said.

"My father died of cancer, so it is a fight that we all need to be part of."

Hertfordshire-based quartet The 4 Fractals played their own set as well as providing backing vocals for Young and for Lucy and Paul Layton of The New Seekers, who performed I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing.

"We are so excited to be here," said Kate Harding, who met her Fractals bandmates in Hitchin choir, Somewhere 2 Sing, several years ago.

"When Steve asked if we wanted to do backing vocals, we said, 'Yes, please'. We love his music."

Also appearing were rock-blues musician Chantel McGregor; singer-songwriter Tony Moore, an early member of Iron Maiden; country singer Savannah Gardner, and guitarist Paul Sweeney.

All the acts came together at the end to sing the Bob Marley classic Three Little Birds.

The youngest performer was Kit Bottomly, 14, from Knebworth, a Hitchin Boys School pupil taught by Young.

"I was pretty nervous performing my songs in front of these legends," he said.

"And then to get to sing with them in the finale, too; it didn't seem real."

David Milson, of the UCLH Charity Cancer Fund, told the crowd every donation made during the event would go directly towards patient support, research, and hospital improvements not covered by NHS funding.

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