Shine Surrey are a friendly group of adults with cancer who meet up once a month in Surrey to spend time with other people who just ‘get it’. Our meet ups change monthly and we do a variety of activities such as, pubs, cafe’s, walks, craft, meals, etc. We’re run by volunteer Network Leaders who have their own diagnosis and we would love new people to come along and join us!
To find out about our next event please click below or drop the Hull Network an email at surrey@shinecancersupport.org. We’d love to hear from you!
Meet Surrey’s volunteer network leader, Gareth!
Hi, I am Gareth and I live in Surrey with my partner and daughter. I am the Network Leader for Surrey. I first met Shine members at a London meet up. I was diagnosed with a high grade brain tumour in November 2023, two days after my 34th birthday. The brain tumour was spotted after I attended a regular optician appointment and the optician advised me that I needed to go straight to A & E the same day. Later that day, after various scans, it was confirmed I had a brain tumour. My life turned upside down and two weeks later, I had debulking surgery to remove as much of the tumour as possible. I finished my course of radiotherapy and chemotherapy in March 2025. The diagnosis was a shock but also a relief as my health had been going downhill for a few years prior and this confirmed why my health had been deteriorating. I now have regular scans to monitor the tumour as it is a high grade tumour.
As hard as having cancer is, it has given me a chance to spend so much more quality time with my family and appreciate each day as it comes. I have taken the chance to travel around the UK and Europe to explore new interests. One of these is Pickleball which I enjoy very much.
Shine has been an amazing support for me and the only place I have met people the same age as me who truly get what it’s like to have cancer as a younger person. I hope to see you at a Shine Surrey or Shine event soon.