CanTeen was founded in 1985 by a New Zealand cancer survivor studying in Sydney, Australia. The idea for a youth-oriented cancer patient support group emerged from the personal and professional experiences of Michael Carr-Gregg, who, in 1978 at the age of 20, was diagnosed with a malignant tumor in his neck. It was his experience of being treated at Wellington Hospital that inspired Michael to form CanTeen Australia while studying there.

Michael’s passion was embraced and developed by a group of six young cancer patients and was supported by a number of health professional. Collectively, they recognised that young people with cancer were being treated in an environment that was dominated by either young children or adults and further, they realized that isolation from one’s peers can have a serious impact on your ability to cope with diagnosis and treatment. Not only did young cancer patients need support in their struggle to survive, they needed to escape the pressures of the hospital to simply ‘be young people.’

Phillip Townsend, a New Zealand teenage cancer survivor, was visiting Australia when he met Michael Carr-Gregg. After sharing their experiences and learning about the teenage cancer patient support group in Australia, Phillip and Michael decided to bring the concept back home and established CanTeen in New Zealand.

The organisation was launched with ‘Miles for Smiles’, a walk from one end of the country to another to raise funds and awareness of adolescent cancer. Then in 1996 CanTeen was incorporated as a society, and registered as a New Zealand charity. With the support of health professionals, an endorsement from the Child Cancer Foundation, and the commitment of many volunteers, CanTeen was successful in establishing a national peer support network in New Zealand. Today, CanTeen NZ operates in 11 branches throughout the country and has grown into a respected and much admired charity.